On December 3rd a group of global scholar students met in the Library after school to hear from Mr. Omar Mohamed, a worker from Lutheran Social Services who works with refugee resettlement in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Mr. Mohamed shared insight into refugee resettlement and the experience of refugees here in Wisconsin.
Mr. Mohamed started with his own background and how he got involved with Lutheran Social Services. He was born in Somalia and fled the country with his family as a refugee when he was younger. They first traveled to Kenya seeking asylum, and after getting into the refugee resettlement program he and his family were sent here to Wisconsin where he was received by Lutheran Social Services to help with their transition into American life. Mr. Mohamed was a middle school/high schooler at the time and his family was able to become self sufficient to the extent that they became citizens and Mr. Mohamed went on to college. He attempted to intern with Lutheran Social Services but was actually hired and has worked with them ever since.
Mr. Mohamed's presentation continued with a brief history of the refugee resettlement program and its origin after World War II to help support all the refugees that were forced out of their home countries by the war. However the program was extended in the 1960s to support refugees in continuing conflicts throughout the world making it international law to help support these people in need. Wisconsin began by welcoming Hmong refugees and until recently were receiving many refugees from Myanmar/Burma (Rohingya), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congolese) and a smaller percentage from Venezuela and Nicaragua. (Until recently is referencing very current events and can easily change and reopen in the future).
Among the challenges refugees face, Mr. Mohamed talked about the cultural challenges. How many refugees arrive and may speak zero English, yet are expected to get a job, support their families and be able to function in American society within 90 days. Many will break down crying when they face this reality. However 100% of all refugee families that they work with become self sufficient. Mr. Mohamed actually referenced one Mukwonago business that has hired about 20 refugees and has helped both create stability for these people but also to show how refugees contribute not only to the Milwaukee & Wisconsin economy but also an impact on the Mukwonago economy. Refugees are required to learn English so they can work toward a drivers license, get their green card so they can work and receive limited benefits and will need to quickly start paying money back to the government for their loan that has provided their plane ticket and other services when they first arrive. Even for refugees fleeing from dire situations, there are limited free handouts. Being self sufficient and independent is a requirement. Because of these challenges, many refugees are settled in areas where other refugees from their original country are located. This way there are people who can help them overcome the language and cultural barriers they run into when they first arrive. During this time male refugees who are of age also register for the selective service (draft) just like other US citizens and many end up serving in our military. After living in the US and Wisconsin for five years they are able to go through the naturalization process to gain US Citizenship.
In addition to the cultural challenges, Mr. Mohamed also pointed out the political challenges refugees face. For example the number of refugees that are allowed into the United States is a number that is set by the US government. Our government sets a quota, and then we select refugees through an interview process that does not exceed that quota. The number allowed into the United States has fluctuated from over 100,000 per year to less than 10,000 based on changes in administration and current issues. For example refugees are individually interviewed by the United Nations, US Immigration, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. All of this is required before arriving in the United States. However after recent events of an Afghan refugee (who worked with US Soldiers in Afghanistan) in Washington D.C. shot two National Guardsmen, many refugees from the past year will have to go through these interviews again. Also many refugees that may have been ready to travel to the United States are now stopped as the government is not allowing people from 19 different countries (all countries that have asylum seekers). However the program has not fully been stopped as Afrikaners that are seeking asylum from South Africa are still being received.
The one hour presentation from Mr. Mohamed was very interesting and insightful. If students missed the opportunity to hear from him, they should reach out to Mr. Montanye who has a recording of the presentation so they can still learn about the process and complete a reflection for the Global Citizenship requirement.
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