* From a press release…
ICIRR Urges Governor Rauner to Embrace Syrian Refugees
Political, Religious and Immigrant Leaders Call for Acceptance
WHAT: The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) will host a press conference following our meeting with senior staff for Governor Bruce Rauner Friday morning. ICIRR and our allies will encourage the Governor to reconsider his decision to suspend resettlement of Syrian refugees in Illinois and to embrace Illinois’ long standing policy of welcoming and acceptance.
WHEN: November 20, 2015
1PM Press Conference
WHERE: ICIRR conference room, 55 E. Jackson, suite 2075, Chicago
WHO: Father Larry Dowling, Priests for Justice, Archdiocese of Chicago
Reverend Michael Mann, United Methodist Church, Northern IL conference
Suzanne Akhras Sahloul, Syrian Community Network
Lawrence Benito, CEO, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Ahmed Rehab, executive director CAIR-Chicago
Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
WHY: The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) will meet with senior staff of Governor Bruce Rauner Friday morning to discuss his decision to suspend resettlement of Syrian refugees in Illinois. ICIRR will encourage the Governor to both embrace refugees who are fleeing persecution and acknowledge the rigorous screening process refugees must complete before settling in Illinois.
Refugees are thoroughly vetted and must complete background checks, interviews, extensive screening and case file reviews to be considered for resettlement. The process can take over24 months, and thus far only about 100 Syrian refugees have arrived in Illinois.
On Wednesday, the Chicago City Council reaffirmed the city’s longstanding commitment to immigrants and refugees, and ICIRR is urging the Governor and all city, state, and nation leaders to do the same. At Friday’s press conference leaders from all backgrounds, faiths and perspectives will join together and reaffirm the importance of acceptance and diversity to the foundation of this country.
* Meanwhile…
(T)wo Illinois Democrats joined a veto-proof House majority in Washington, D.C., on Thursday in passing a bill to require more stringent security checks on refugees from Iraq and Syria who want to enter the U.S.
The measure, drawn up after the Paris terror attacks, passed 289-137.
Joining all eight House Republicans from Illinois in supporting the bill were Democratic Reps. Dan Lipinski of Western Springs and Cheri Bustos of East Moline.
The state’s eight other House Democrats voted no. Altogether, the bill drew support from 47 Democrats. Passage came despite a White House threat to veto the measure, which is called the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act.
*** UPDATE *** Doesn’t sound like the meeting had any impact…
“The Administration explained to the groups that while Illinois wants to be a welcoming place for refugees, the federal government is still not sharing critical information requested by states,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “We hope they will advocate with federal representatives to encourage more information sharing from the federal government to the states.”
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:01 am:
“Senior staff.” Is that like a grade below superstar?
Apparently, the governor can only communicate his position on this issue via press release.
Person-to-person, thinking on his feet, not so much.
Duck Dodger in the 21st Century.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:03 am:
Dan Lipinski’s vote is understandable - especially since he leans right on a lot of social issues - but Cheri Bustos’s vote surprises me. I know she’s in a safe district, but still.
- Roamin' Numeral - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:08 am:
This is an opportunity for the governor to not just look like a leader, but actually lead. Against a backdrop of Donald Trump touting a “Muslim Database” and Ben Carson comparing Syrian refugees to “rabid dogs,” Bruce Rauner can show everyone that he won’t buy into the weak-willed xenophobic fear.
Time to step up, Gov. Don’t disappoint us.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:09 am:
It would have been shocking if Lipinski had done anything else.
– MrJM
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:09 am:
Why does everything these days seem like a battle for the soul?
- burt reynolds - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:10 am:
Hang in there, Syrian refugees!
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:12 am:
Lipinski and Bustos made a mistake, with their 45 fellow House Dems. I’m stunned by yesterday’s vote. Forget the founding fathers and what this country stands for. We’ve got candidates talking about a database of Muslim citizens through forced registration, about ‘Christians only’ policies, comparing persecuted people to rabid dogs. This feels like a bad dream.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:19 am:
Don’t fight the fever. Wait until it cools. Stop calling people names, even when you believe it is warranted. Until the fear subsides, respect it. Listen. Respectfully respond.
Do what doctors do. Speak calmly. Stop calling people xenophobic or fear mongers.
Everyone is afraid of something. Global warming? Global cooling? Mentally ill people with guns? Losing your job? Losing your home? War? Respect the fear and play it safe.
Above all, stop antagonizing people because you don’t agree with their fear.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:22 am:
– This feels like a bad dream.–
I suspect you ain’t seen nothing yet. This stuff is moving the needle in the GOP presidential race.
If history is a guide, in this cynical fear-mongering environment created by politicians, I suspect it’s only a matter of time before a “patriot” takes matter into his own hands and “strikes a blow for liberty.”
- Ghost - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:23 am:
we do better background checks on poor, starving homless refugees who have not once shot up anything, then we do on us citizens wanting to buy guns; and we have had lots of people killed by those gun purchasers.
if we want better security we need to consider our disaffected youth being converted, and the need for more stringent background checks with gun purchases…. this would provide more security and prevent more deaths then this bill.
i support gun ownership, but if we want more detailed background checks do it on gun purchases if you want to provide more safety. just sayin…
- Roamin' Numeral - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:27 am:
It’s fair game to call people what they are. History is going to judge these “leaders” based on their words and actions. Gov. Pence did himself, and the people of Indiana, no favors yesterday. Real leaders rise above the fear and the nonsense and lead with conviction. Rauner has a chance to send a loud, potent message. Let’s see if he seizes that opportunity or lets it slip through his fingers.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:30 am:
Mr. Key asks a timely question:Oh say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free
and the home of the brave?
– MrJM
- anon - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:37 am:
Like most people, I don’t object to refugees BUT I want to know that (and how) the feds can assure me that a refugee is not a sleeper jihad i.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:41 am:
Anon 9:37, on this blog alone over the past two days, there have been robust links and posts on the refugee vetting process and the United States experience with refugees in regards to public safety.
If you haven’t found answers to your questions by now, you simply do not want to know.
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:46 am:
==This stuff is moving the needle in the GOP presidential race.==
No doubt. I’m disappointed with some of the Dem votes tho.
- a drop in - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:52 am:
anon - your “sleeper jihad” is more likely on a plane from London or Paris then in a refugee line. Also more likely in a car crossing the border from Canada. Of course, we can always close the Canadian border and stop all international flights if that makes everyone feel better… /s
- Anonin' - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:53 am:
How is the roundup goin’
Did the SuperStars send out the ISP to get the 213 Syrians who are already here?
Maybe we can get the IPI news squad out on the beat
- Jeff - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:56 am:
Agree with what Lincoln Lad said. Feels like a bad dream.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:59 am:
=== you simply do not want to know.===
Ding ding ding!!!
- Robert the Bruce - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 9:59 am:
anon - nobody can assure you 100% of that.
And nobody can assure you that the seemingly normal but somewhat quiet high school kid down the street isn’t plotting something awful.
There have been more of those in our country than refugee terrorist acts.
I’d encourage you to read the process for refugee entry; it’s not easy to get here.
- 360 Degree TurnAround - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:03 am:
Is it safe to put the Syrian refugees into the group being held hostage by Governor Rauner? I know other Governors are doing it, but you know the old saying “If Governor Christie caused a traffic jam on a bridge, would you cause a traffic jam on the bridge?”
- X-prof - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:04 am:
a drop in - true, but even more likely a young, disaffected US citizen who’s already here and who’s numbers are no doubt growing in response to the mindless reaction now underway; e.g., the Boston marathon bombers.
Why import terrorists when we can grow them ourselves at home?
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:27 am:
-wordslinger@ 9:22-
I likewise fear it’s only a matter of time.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:38 am:
If you haven’t found answers to your questions by now, you simply do not want to know.
Wrong. If you haven’t found answers to your questions by now, you don’t trust the answers that have been given.
I have a belief that Paris isn’t a surprise, it is a confirmation of the worst fears people have. Paris blew up government credibility regarding terrorism. Obama blew up when he earlier in that day gave us the impression that we had still reason to hope we can keep terrorism out of the US.
You might not want to believe this, but the President has repeatedly failed to the point where his administration isn’t believed by enough people to keep hope alive.
The good news is that this can be fixed. But not for another year. And - people are still looking for answers from a president - that’s good. We have a dozen candidates running, and people are looking to them. So the panic hasn’t reached a point where Americans have given up on government completely.
But once-hopeful people have lost hope. They don’t want to be afraid. They aren’t enjoying being afraid. They want to believe. What has happened, is that they have stopped believing in our current administration.
Which completely sucks for all of us.
The answers have been provided. The problem is that folks don’t believe in the answers. Until the fear subsides on its own, confirming once again that they can be protected by government - people will be afraid.
Sorry, but you are preaching to a mass of hysterical people. They aren’t listening. You have to change the messenger and reaffirm the message. Obama is a lame duck and can no longer do it.
This might be a good time for Mrs. Clinton to step into the vacuum and look presidential, as former secretary of state and presumptive party nominee. That might help.
- Jack Stephens - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:41 am:
Interesting that the we’ll take 2 years to vet refugees, but not do that with a potential gun owner.
Just sayin’
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:50 am:
Typing…carefully…trying to avoid another deletion…taking a deep breath…
Let me just say that I violently disagree with VanillaMan’s comment at 10:38. The success of fair and balanced news coverage and conservative talk radio is due largely to its ability to generate fear among its consumers.
We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And yet fear is a fetish for some on the right. You can blame that on President Obama, if that makes you feel better, or you can see it for what it is.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 10:51 am:
Sorry, was quoting Plato there at the end.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:03 am:
VanillaMan - lately I haven’t agreed with you on much, but your two posts are very well-reasoned.
- Nonsense - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:11 am:
Vanilla Man, how exactly has Obama failed on this? How many terrorist attacks have happened here since he took office? That’s not a coincidence, as if he and his whole administration/intellegince services/military/state department have been sitting around doing nothing the last seven years.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:19 am:
–Don’t fight the fever. Wait until it cools.–
VMan, right now, we have major presidential candidates proposing to restrict entry into the United States to Christians and to close mosques.
Now is not the time to be silent.
You let this stuff slide now, and it’s going to be worse the next time the panic-peddlers strike.
- CapnCrunch - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:27 am:
“The success of fair and balanced news coverage ……….is due largely to its ability to generate fear among its consumers.”
I don’t think the NY Times and the WSJ are trying to generate fear in their readers. Our governor missed the boat by not taking advantage of having our undivided attention and asking us to use Paris as a learning moment. If we took the time to try and understand why and how Paris happened we might be less inclined to react in an irrational manner. The -VanillaMan- is offering intelligent advice. The president of France says we are in a “war”. The president of the US says we are fighting a “network of killers” that he recently said was the junior varsity. Both cannot be correct. We should inform ourselves so we can decide who is right. If we understand we will make wiser choices and have less reason to be afraid.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:27 am:
Thank you Team Sleep.
I don’t have a problem with 47th’s comment at all. I always enjoy his postings.
I want my postings to respectfully present a view which is has not yet been presented. I want to add to our enlightened conversations.
On this, I have a lot of faith in people doing the right thing in the end. There is a reason for their concern. I want my Democratic friends to respect it, so that both their views can be heard too. Right now, there needs to be a lot of compassion and listening, so that the right thing can be done.
I want the innocent refugees to find refuge and safety. I want the US to find a way to feel safe. If Syrian refugees are forced into the US against US will, it will be unfair to everyone.
Browbeating people doesn’t work.
- p-hills - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:35 am:
Team Sleep wrote “Dan Lipinski’s vote is understandable — especially since he leans right…”
True, but his district also has a large Arab immigrant population. Quietly, a portion of the southwest suburbs stretching from Bridgeview to Orland Park has become one of the largest centers of Arab population in the nation. They aren’t big enough to hurt Lipinski electorally — yet, but they probably could of given him enough political cover to have voted against this nonsense.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:41 am:
The bad dream won’t stop…
We further restrict entry to persecuted people fleeing for their lives, though there is nothing that statistically supports that our current process of vetting isn’t working.
We refuse to look at any limitations to limit access to automatic weapons of war, despite the fact that these weapons are used repeatedly to kill us, even kill our children in schools. This is happening at record pace, and the body counts are down the block, not halfway around the world.
And both incongruities are a result of political pressure and the desire to politically capitalize on real and horrible tragedy.
We’ll use the founding fathers to defend our right to bear arms, but through them away to discriminate on basis of religion and nationality.
We’ll profess world shaking fear, but won’t act to limit access here to the type of automatic weapons terrorists used in Paris, and that are used in school shootings over and over.
Time for serious people to show up and for the nonsense to stop.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:43 am:
…throw them away…
Self correcting….
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:44 am:
VMan, right now, we have major presidential candidates proposing to restrict entry into the United States to Christians and to close mosques.
I understand. I don’t like hearing this stuff. They all want to be the next president. They don’t want to be the next Obama, though. They are all speaking on something they have no experiences, no information, and little insight into. The only guy who has ever dealt with the issue of terrorism is near the bottom of the polls. The most inexperienced rubes are at the top of the polls. Lord, help us all!
If the murders continue, expect a candidate trusted to implement a sound and popular plan winning the nominations of both parties. If the murders discontinue, expect a new issue arising.
Immigration is a hot issue for one party, and it isn’t for the other. I don’t expect the party unaffected by immigration to understand the issue’s relevance in the other party.
Lastly, Obama isn’t stupid. He has a huge ego. He wants to be involved in the 2016 election. He loves exacerbating his opponents. Nothing would make him happier than seeing the GOP in a furor over an issue he generates. He might be a lame duck, but he isn’t a stupid one.
- Daniel Plainview - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 11:51 am:
- Like most people, I don’t object to refugees BUT I want to know that (and how) the feds can assure me that a refugee is not a sleeper jihad i. -
Do you also want the Feds to come tuck you in at night?
For crying out loud, you right wingers are supposed to be self reliant tough guys, yet my 12 year old niece has more courage than you.
Pathetic.
- JoanP - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:01 pm:
ASAFE Act? This comes under my rule that any legislation whose title is a cute acronym or is named “So-and-so’s Law” is probably bad legislation.
- JackD - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:04 pm:
Vanilla Man at 10:38: I really don’t understand your statement about blowing up government credibility regarding terrorism. You are saying this in the context of a discussion about resisting Syrian refugees entry into the U.S. In Paris, refugees had nothing to do with the attacks. Beyond that, it’s hard to credit a claim that anyone in our government has downplayed the dangers of terrorism. I guess I have to repeat my question from yesterday: how long is it necessary to wait before responding to the hysterical and wrong headed reactions within our political ranks? As Wordslinger states (I’m paraphrasing), if we wait too long it can give the impression that there is agreement within our society with the hysterics.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:08 pm:
Vanilla Man, how exactly has Obama failed on this? How many terrorist attacks have happened here since he took office?
If you use domestic terrorist attacks as your yardstick on this issue, then you probably don’t see Obama as a failure on this issue. Some claim we’ve had issues, but nothing on par of what we’ve seen over the past decade in Western Europe. Nothing that really undermined his credibility - that way.
It is no secret however, that ISIS is a festering problem in a part of the world that Obama hasn’t been shown as mastering. His credibility was lost there.
Paris has occurred and the source of this horrible act is in the part of the world which has done Mr. Obama no favors. Consequently we feel pretty helpless regarding ISIS and our president’s response to it.
If you are a domestic policy focused individual, Mr. Obama seems like a good guy to have around. If you are worried about domestic issues, so is he. Problem is, sometimes the world gets ugly and makes foreign policy more important. Mr. Obama has not succeeded in that arena to a level where his leadership is respected by most Americans. When Paris blew up, so did Mr. Obama’s credibility. As long as ISIS is an issue, as long as that part of the world is an issue, our president will continue to lose until he finds something to satisfy Americans concerned over that part of the world.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:15 pm:
how long is it necessary to wait before responding to the hysterical and wrong headed reactions within our political ranks?
GREAT QUESTION!
You may respond as soon as you no longer see those holding that view as being hysterical or wrong headed. You see, your discrimination against those holding that view, is preventing you from being heard. Until you get it out of your head that these people are out of their minds, you won’t be able to converse with them so that you will be heard, and switch their point of view.
You are causing your own problem yourself! No one wants to be talked down to. No one wants to listen to someone completely lacking in empathy to their concerns. You don’t do it, so why do you think anyone else would?
Your important point of view will be heard as soon as you drop your arrogant nastiness towards other people on this issue. Heart to heart conversations and listening only occurs when you drop your prejudices first.
Be a coach, not a critic. That is how we start.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Mass shootings in the United States since Sandy Hook, Dec. 14, 2012: 1,000+
Mass shootings in the United States attributed to any of the 800,000 refugees admitted to the country since Sept. 11, 2001: 0
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
VM,
With all due respect, fear feeds itself. And it is fed by those who profit from it politically.
For example, some of us patiently waited for “the fear to subside on its own” with regard to baseless concerns regarding the president’s birth certificate. But instead of “people doing the right thing in the end”, one of the biggest Birthers now tops the polls for the GOP nomination for president.
I see no reason to believe that silence will be more effective tool for the truth in this instance.
– MrJM
- JackD - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:29 pm:
Well, but you are ignoring the effect of the hysterics going unanswered on the rest of the world and, indeed, on those in our own population who are undecided and/or confused on the issues.
As for holding Obama responsible for what happened in Paris, that did some significant damage to your image of objectivity.
As to refusing to characterize reactions as hysterical or wrongheaded until I confess that they are not that, I take it I must refuse to call a spade a spade even if it is one and dignify the reactions with respect that they do not deserve.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:31 pm:
“You may respond as soon as you no longer see those holding that view as being hysterical or wrong headed.”
So the more hysterical and wrong-headed their behavior, the longer one must wait to respond?
When will I be allowed to respond to FDR’s Japanese internment camps? I STILL think those behind them were “hysterical and wrong-headed”. Am I forbidden to say that?
Such privileging of emotion over reason leads to absurd (and dangerous) results.
– MrJM
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
Timothy McVeigh was a white military veteran, yet he chose to blow up a building in Oklahoma City. Who do we choose to put on a tracking list, bar entry to, and round up on that one? Not sure what his religion was, but am sure he wasn’t Muslim. I don’t understand people who enjoy as much or more freedom than anyone in the world, not extending it to others fighting to survive. The church doesn’t either, I’m pretty sure.
- Tammy - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 12:42 pm:
== a portion of the southwest suburbs stretching from Bridgeview to Orland Park has become one of the largest centers of Arab population ==
That’s why Sen Landek voted present on the Israel investment bill earlier this year.
- Graduated College Student - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:01 pm:
===–Don’t fight the fever. Wait until it cools.–===
Yeah man, David Vitter needs to win that Louisiana Gubernatorial Election now.
/Seriously he’s closing the gap just on this issue.
- Graduated College Student - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:05 pm:
===Dan Lipinski’s vote is understandable - especially since he leans right on a lot of social issues - but Cheri Bustos’s vote surprises me. I know she’s in a safe district, but still. ===
A Republican who peddles the right amount of fear and disgust possibly could win that district. There’s a lot of poor and/or rural white voters in 17.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
===the federal government is still not sharing critical information requested by states,===
Did ck offer any examples? What info is the state seeking?
- Henry Francis - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
No, we’re not fanning the flames of xenophobia solely for craven political purposes. We are actually pointing out something (manufactured or real, doesn’t matter) that our federal government purportedly is not doing right. Says the Rauner administration that knows how a government is supposed to work (especially when it comes to sharing information).
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
“The Administration explained to the groups that while Illinois wants to be a welcoming place for refugees, our approval rating is in the toilet while Donald Trump is at the top of GOP polls, so…”
– MrJM