Ken Barnes

Please ITL this terrible bill. The refugee resettlement program is one of the best things about living in NH. My life is enhanced and my happiness grows whenever I meet and share community with people from backgrounds different from mine. In addition, my faith tradition teaches — as many do — that we are all God’s children and worthy of the same respect and dignity. We must welcome the stranger in our midst, much as our ancestors were welcomed when they came to this country. Finally, refugees who seek to resettle in our communities are fleeing the most tragic situations in their homelands: brutal violence, famine, and harsh political persecution. What kind of human beings would we be if we refuse to welcome them and provide a safe place to raise their families? PS - Please don’t be misled by false claims of “the worst of the worst.” Refugees do not pose a threat to public safety. Native-born Americans commit far more crimes than refugees or immigrants. Remember, everyone in the refugee resettlement program has been vetted multiple times by trusted international organizations. Once in the US, they work hard, contribute to their communities, and pay taxes. I urge you to find HB 1706 inexpedient to legislate. Thank you for your consideration.