U.S. official discusses refugee bill with Tracy

Shelbyville Times-Gazette ^ | February 12, 2012 | Brian Mosely

[radu]

A top representative of the U.S. State Department was in Tennessee this week to discuss a law dealing with the state's refugee resettlement program. The Refugee Absorptive Capacity Act, which originated from the desk of State Sen. Jim Tracy, became law last July. It's the first bill of its kind.

It requires the state's refugee program agency, Catholic Charities, to meet four times a year with local governments to plan and coordinate "the appropriate placement of refugees in advance of the refugees' arrival ..."

The law also allows local communities to apply for a "moratorium" on refugee resettlement if those agencies overload local resources, and so far, Tennessee is the only state that has passed this type of legislation.

A number of refugees from a variety of countries, such as Somalia, Burma and Egypt, have moved to Shelbyville in recent years to be closer to jobs at the Tyson Foods facility.

[radu]

Well doggone. They can't find anything wrong with the bill so they can't sue the state for passing it.

I guess now they're worried other states will pass similar legislation. heh! With luck, a few state legislators will see this and take the hint.