Michigan and Minnesota have become the latest states to say they will continue welcoming refugees into their communities in response to a Trump administration executive order that gives localities and states unprecedented power to reject vulnerable families who have been displaced from their homes and are seeking safety and new lives in the United States. “The inn is not full in Minnesota,” Democratic Gov. Tim Walz wrote in his letter to the administration last week. “Minnesota has a strong moral tradition of welcoming those who seek refuge. Our state has always stepped forward to help those who are fleeing desperate situations and need a safe place to call home. In keeping with this proud history, I offer my consent to continue refugee resettlement in the State of Minnesota.”
“Michigan has a rich history of welcoming refugees and other immigrants to our state," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in her announcement that the state would continue embracing these families. “We recognize the value of being a welcoming state, and the contribution of refugees to the fabric of our communities. I am committed to ensuring that we remain a leader in responding to the needs of globally displaced families and individuals."
This past fall, the administration announced that the U.S. would be slashing refugee admissions to a record low, and would additionally give localities and states, for the first time ever, the ability to slam the door shut on refugees. However, as of the beginning of December, The New York Times reported that none so far have taken this drastic action. In fact, “Republican governors in Utah, North Dakota, and Arizona are among those who have already sent in notices saying yes to refugee resettlement in their states,” Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota said.
The administration is also facing a lawsuit over the executive order. “The President’s order and resulting agency actions threaten to deprive thousands of refugees of their best chance to successfully build a new life and to burden thousands of US families who are waiting to reunite with their parents, children, and other relatives fleeing persecution,” HIAS, Church World Service, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services said in the suit.
Among them is Halimo Ahmed Hassan. While she was able to come to Utah from Somalia in 2014, her hope to bring her son later on was squashed following Trump’s Muslim ban. “Now, with so many people in line for so few resettlement slots, Hassan has no idea when she and her son, now 16, will be together again,” The Washington Post reported. “I think about him all the time,” she said. “All the other people in America have helped me. I don’t know why the president isn’t helping.”
But the states are. "Minnesota, and the United States, have a long commitment to providing safe haven to people fleeing persecution," said Veena Iyer of the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. "Refugees and immigrants make Minnesota a stronger, more prosperous, more vibrant state. This executive order is unnecessary because refugee resettlement agencies already work closely with states and local communities. However, as challenges to the order move through the courts, we encourage Minnesota counties to follow the lead of the state and Kandiyohi County in welcoming refugees. "