The State Department has approved the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Rutland, according to the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program.
“The Syrians are coming to Rutland, Vermont! This outcome was expected, Rutland is a welcoming community,” according to a statement posted on the VRRP’s Facebook page. The agency is a field office of the U.S Committee for Refugees and Immigrants.
It isn’t clear when the first Syrians will arrive in Rutland, but VRRP hopes that the resettlement will begin before the end of the year. The agency also said that there will be an office in Rutland with trained staff to help the Syrians settle in their new country.
Several people posted messages of support on the Rutland Welcomes Facebook page. “I am available to help out with the office and am interested in the training to be a family friend,” wrote Jacqueline Abbey.
Vermont’s congressional delegation — Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) — issued a joint statement praising the decision and hailing the news that a separate federal grant of $150,000 will be used to help the refugees find jobs and “achieve self-sufficiency.”
“We know the good people of Rutland and Vermont will welcome these newcomers into the community,” the statement reads. “Struggling families, fleeing peril and motivated to start their lives anew, always have and always will enrich America and contribute immeasurably to our state.”
The resettlement plan has polarized the city since Mayor Chris Louras announced last April that he wanted to bring 100 Syrian refugees to Rutland.
A loose-knit group, called Rutland First, has questioned the secretive nature in which the USCRI developed the plan with Louras, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Vermont’s congressional delegation. They are also skeptical that Rutland would be able to provide the services and support that the Syrians need.
An investigative report found Louras did not work outside of his mayoral authority in developing the plan.
Meanwhile, the Rutland Welcomes group has been sharing ideas on how to make the city more welcoming for the Syrians.
Last week, Alfonso Villegas wrote, “There are many students at Vermont Law School that support your mission. We would love to help in any way we can! Specifically, the Latin American Law Student Association would love to volunteer, host events, and promote drives.”
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I am happy to be supportive of these kinds of things. Taking in refugees is a kind and generous thing and I live my life helping others but I also have reservations. No matter how much we screen people we will never know what is really going on with them. What kind of people they truly are. We see this everywhere even here in our own country. We never would have believed that the ones that commit crime could do it. We have real issues here also. since they are coming let’s give it our best shot but let’s fix us too
I cant believe that Rutland officials are more concerned about taking in the refugees than they are about fixing issues our current residents are dealing with…elderly, vets, the increase of families needing help, individuals that cant afford housing are homeless or living in a motel – with children- (put up by aid from the state), only real jobs available in our area are low waged or part-time. For all that are tickled about the refugees need to take them into their homes and support them… Our Vermont residents should be taken care of first!!