A contributed perspectives piece by Scott Taylor
Dear Representative Cline,
I am writing to request your urgent, personal intervention to speak against the administration’s suspension of aid to refugees and recent legal immigrants here in the Shenandoah Valley. I am deeply concerned that the presidential administration’s recent actions, seemingly haphazard and loosely planned in nature, will severely delay or limit life-sustaining assistance to refugees and other vulnerable families.
I have seen some of the needs in our own community first hand. I am also fortunate to be able to encourage and lend support to my wife who volunteers her time weekly, and often daily, to help many of these families: co-administering a local faith-based program to teach them English, teaching English and U.S. citizenship herself, helping men and women find jobs and learn interview skills, and helping them navigate the needless complexity of the federal bureaucracy.
Many are highly dependent on aid that originates with the federal government as they begin new lives here. They are our newest neighbors – seeking to work, learn our language, become citizens, and make a better life for themselves and their kids. I think we can all agree the Valley is a terrific place to do that. After all, we’ve been welcoming immigrants and refugees here for decades.
But now, as Rick Santos, the President and CEO of Church World Services has recently stated “Thousands of refugee families, who came to this country via safe and legal programs, are now being targeted by a harmful disinformation campaign and policies meant to sow chaos and confusion while denying them access to support services. The impact of these program suspensions is disastrous to the communities we serve and leaves behind thousands of people our nation has pledged to protect–including Afghan allies who fought alongside the U.S. military and refugee families who have been thoroughly vetted and endured a years-long process to be approved for travel.”
We personally know both Afghan families and Ukrainians who fled here from violence based on our promises to help and shelter them. These families have already undergone vetting and were legally granted entry, expecting a safe and stable future. Instead, they now face an uncertain reality.
I encourage and ask you to use your voice and influence in this very closely divided House of Representatives to bring the uncertainty for those already here in our towns and businesses to a close. Let’s all take a deep breath, press stop on the political posturing, and restore the help these people desperately need.
A single, courageous voice in today’s House, refusing to allow these people to be harmed or else in return delaying the administration’s legislative goals, could force an immediate change of approach and outcomes. It is certainly legitimate to debate who else is allowed to come here, and we all feel we need to stem the unchecked tide of illegal entry. But, it is frankly unethical to refuse continued legal protection and financial support to those we already committed to help.
Perhaps, Mr. Cline, you were elected a leader in our conservative and Republican – and at the same time – deeply Christian and immigrant-welcoming district for this moment. I hope you will find your voice on our behalf and take a bold stand – proving again that as Americans we keep our promises to people we brought here and will still show compassion to the powerless, foreigner, and orphan.
After all, it isn’t just to voters or politicians we will all give an account one day.
I wish you all the best in what I know is a challenging job and divisive political situation. Thank you for your service and for your urgent attention to helping many of your new and future constituents.
Scott Taylor is a long time resident of Rockingham County. He works as an executive at a multinational pharmaceutical company and enjoys hiking and our local coffee shops.
