SAINT PAUL, MINN – 140 Somali refugees, left in limbo after President Trump signed a controversial executive order suspending refugee immigration, have arrived to be settled in the US.
The executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 27, 2017 suspended refugee admissions for 120 days while security procedures are reviewed, with allowances made for individuals facing religious or other persecution.
The refugees had been approved for resettlement in the United States. They were waiting in a Nairobi transit camp when the order banning refugees from seven countries (Somalia included) went into effect. The refugees were sent back to refugee camps to wait. After the immigration order was suspended by the 9th Circuit court the refugees were sent back to Nairobi and then on to the United States. (MPRNews.com)
From October 1, 2016 through January 31, 2017
According to the US State Department, from October 2016 to January 30, 2017, the United States has admitted 32,475 refugees for resettlement. Of those 32,475, California and Texas have resettled the largest numbers with 3205 and 3080 each. 1039 have been settled in Minnesota. Half of Minnesota’s refugees come from Somalia (529).
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle
Andrea Mayer-Bruestle is a former writer for Alpha News.
