Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

………This is part 2 of a series of immigrants/refugees………

A great program that serves refugees in Salem, Oregon where I live much of the year could be under attack soon.

And when I say it is a program that serves refugees you won’t be surprised to hear about the source of the threat.

Yes, Donald Trump and his sycophants.

In part 1 yesterday, I noted that Trump himself is a son of an immigrant, his mother.  His father’s heritage goes back to German a generation ago.  So, the point is that Trump, himself, has immigrant heritage, which makes it even more ironic that he comes across as hating all immigrants.

Which means, in a way, he hates himself.  And, I guess, in the case of Trump, that almost makes sense!

For the following report on threats to the Salem, Oregon, refugee community, it is important to add that I am indebted to Salem Reporter, an excellent on-line source of journalism in my hometown.  It is edited by a long-time journalist in Oregon, Les Zaitz, whom I knew well when I worked in and around government and he was an investigative reporter for the Oregonian newspaper.

He now plies journalism ground in several ways, one of which is by editing and publishing Salem Reporter.  Nuggets of information below come from a story by reporter Abbey McDonald.

Here is how she started her report:

“Luke Glaze worried when he saw federal actions in Minnesota involving refugees.

“The federal government in January launched an immigration enforcement operation to re-evaluate the status of around 5,600 refugees living in Minnesota.  Federal officials ultimately detained dozens of people, flying them to detention facilities in Texas, where they were questioned for days.  Those released had no ticket back home.”

So, Glaze, executive director of Salem for Refugees, wondered if Oregon and Salem could be the next Trump target.

More from Glaze:

“Those actions a half a country away prompted concerns for future enforcement actions against 15,000 people in Oregon who fall into the targeted group of those who arrived during the Biden Administration, and haven’t yet obtained a green card through a legal process that Trump suspended.”

McDonald also reported that it was the latest in a series of federal policy changes, enforcement operations, and resource restrictions which has shaken Salem’s refugee community in recent months.  As a result, Glaze pivoted his non-profit operations from re-settlement efforts to support, education and protection for those who are here.

When a federal judge put a stop to the Minnesota detainment operation with a temporary restraining order, McDonald reported that Glaze hoped it would bring reprieve for the 2,000 people his organization serves.  They all came to the U.S. through a legal process open to those fleeing danger and persecution in their home countries.

“We thought that was kind of good news, and a sign that maybe U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would have to change their tactics, maybe just move to a standard interview to re-vet refugees rather than having detention as part of that process.
Then, on Wednesday, February 18, McDonald continued, a memo came from the Department of Homeland Security stating that all refugees applying for green cards must return to federal custody a year after arrival into the U.S.  The memo said they would be detained indefinitely while being re-vetted, due to concerns for national security and the economy.

“It seems to be that they’re doubling down on this kind of tactic, which is really concerning, because obviously it creates a lot of additional trauma on families that have already experienced a lot of trauma,” Glaze said. 

Families in Salem served by Glaze’ organization come from Ukraine, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Venezuela, and El Salvador.

On Thursday, Salem for Refugees joined the five other resettlement agencies in the state in urging Oregon’s Congressional delegation, Governor Tina Kotek and state legislators to condemn the DHS memo.

“Refugees are lawful community members, workers, parents, and students. Policies that create fear, strip basic supports, and expose families to detention, undermine Oregon’s values and destabilize entire communities,” the joint statement said.

The refugee agencies also repeated their ask for $3.5 million from the Oregon Legislature to mitigate the impact of damaging federal policy shifts.

“How do we continue to help the existing refugee community strengthen and grow so that it is as strong and healthy as possible for when the pendulum swings and we can resettle again?” Glaze asks.

And, in conclusion, Glaze said he’s seen some beauty amid the hardship.

“We see what makes refugees who they are, which is this incredible resilience. Who, despite all these challenges and roadblocks, continue to make a go at life here in the U.S.,” he said.  “Some of them have started businesses in the last few months.  Some of them have graduated high school and are pursuing college, and their careers and goals.”

Glaze’ organization started at the church my wife and I attend in Salem, Oregon, Salem Alliance. The program was that called simply Salem for Refugees, but it has since branched out into a larger organization, which now faces renewed threats every day.

On the part of my wife and myself, we intend to continue supporting Salem for Refugees with money and volunteer action.  It’s the least we can do for these individuals who are on trying to become citizens.

We wish them well on that threat-infused journey.