HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he doesn’t know of any specific plans to relocate Syrian refugees in Hawaii, one day after he said the state would welcome refugees from the war-torn country. Ige told a news conference that
HONOLULU — Gov. David Ige said Tuesday he doesn’t know of any specific plans to relocate Syrian refugees in Hawaii, one day after he said the state would welcome refugees from the war-torn country.
Ige told a news conference that 21 refugees have moved to Hawaii during the past decade, but none was from Syria.
He explained Hawaii, like other states, is obligated to participate in a refugee placement program run by the federal government. He said refugees must have sponsors, such as family members or community groups in the place where they’re relocated. There must also be a cultural network to support the refugees in the community they move to, he said.
Law enforcement agencies screen applicants and refugees are subjected to an intense interview process, he said.
On Monday, Ige said Hawaii would accept refugees from Syria, noting the state and the U.S. have a long history of welcoming refugees affected by war and oppression. His office received 500 calls from the public about his statement, said Ige spokeswoman Jodi Leong. A petition on Change.org opposing the resettling of Syrians in Hawaii collected more than 7,000 signatures by late Tuesday, one day after it was created.
Ige told reporters he understands people are concerned about community safety after the terror attacks in France on Friday.
“But I also understand what happens when a community, for whatever reason, is discriminated against irresponsibly with no basis. You know, Japanese-Americans were interned after (the start of World War II) and their property was taken,” said Ige, who is of Japanese and Okinawan descent. “It really is about remembering that we are a community, that the overwhelming majority of our communities, of world communities, are hardworking, peace-loving people.”
Ige said he also realizes people want the state to take care of its own before it takes care of others. But he said Hawaii is doing that, adding the public and private sectors are making progress on addressing homelessness.
The U.S. has admitted about 2,500 Syrians since civil war erupted in their country in 2011. The Obama Administration plans to bring an additional 10,000 Syrian refugees to the U.S.
