OPINION
Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
July 21, 2014
Volume 24 Number 14
July 21, 2014
ISSN: 1094-9453
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MY TURN
n Dmae Roberts
The impact of unaccompanied
children crossing the border
Tauch mentioned it is quite possible ORR might
ithin the last few weeks, we’ve seen
photos and video footage of a staggering divert $94 million from refugee services to meet the
number of children — more than 57,000, needs of the children arriving from Central
and mostly from Central American countries — America. He said it could possibly mean a “58 per-
trying to cross the U.S. border by themselves. They cent reduction in funding” for IRCO in the next few
have made the long and dangerous trip to escape the years.
I also spoke with Margaret Malarkey, IRCO’s
horror of their own countries, including death
threats from drug lords and
community
relations
rampant crime and vio-
specialist. She said a loss in
lence. Many have ended up
funding could mean “al-
in detention centers amid
most 2,000 refugees would
protests from American
lose access to services.”
citizens chanting “U-S-A!
Malarkey explained that
U-S-A!”
about 1,811 refugee job
As of this writing, Presi-
seekers
could
lose
dent Obama has proposed
assistance finding employ-
$3.7 billion of emergency
ment, 43 refugee elders
spending to deal with the
would not receive access to
crisis, with the potential Seniors exercise at the Immigrant and Refugee Commu-
meals or healthcare, and 45
funds earmarked mostly nity Organization (IRCO) in Portland, Oregon. IRCO, along
refugees would not benefit
for policing the border, with three other area nonprofit organizations — Ecumeni-
from asset-building and
speeding up the court cal Ministries of Oregon, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran
microenterprise programs
system for deportation, and Community Services — have organized to alert the public
due to the potential cuts.
jailing and detaining the and lawmakers about possible cuts to their budgets be-
IRCO, like the nonprofits
unaccompanied children. cause of the sudden influx of unaccompanied children
mentioned earlier, serves a
What is unclear is where from Central American countries. (Photo/Nisa’ Haron)
great many ethnicities and
the proposed funds would come from.
nationalities. Since 1975, when many Southeast
In Portland, the Immigrant and Refugee Commu- Asian refugees arrived in the U.S., IRCO has
nity Organization (IRCO), along with three other provided a pathway for immigrants and refugees to
nonprofit organizations — Ecumenical Ministries of find housing, education, and employment in
Oregon, Catholic Charities, and Lutheran Commu- Oregon.
nity Services — have organized to alert the public
Some people might not be aware of IRCO, but the
and lawmakers about possible cuts to their budgets organization has had an important impact on
because of the sudden influx of unaccompanied first-generation families in the Portland metro-
children. These organizations offer a myriad of ser- politan area. Some folks have misconceptions about
vices to help refugees become active and productive IRCO, where on any given day, one would see many
citizens in America, including help with job training people of color enter and exit the building.
and finding employment, healthcare, and housing. Attending an IRCO event is like entering a United
A majority of the funding for these programs comes Nations of nationalities and ethnicities. When I step
from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR).
foot into the IRCO building, I feel the same
I’ve had a personal connection with one of these excitement and multiculturalism as when I travel
groups, IRCO, since 2005, when I partnered with internationally.
the organization to create a radio piece about the
Earlier this month, The Skanner newspaper
first Southeast Asian refugees in Portland. One of reported on a small group of protesters holding
the people interviewed for the radio project was white supremacist signs in front of the IRCO
Sokhom Tauch, IRCO’s executive director. Recent- building in northeast Portland. They were part of an
ly, I’ve been visiting IRCO to interview immigrants anti-immigrant group.
and refugees to explore their relationship with the
Perhaps the protesters don’t realize that the
arts on a new project funded by the Regional Arts & people utilizing services at IRCO have legal status
Culture Council. That’s how I heard about the as refugees. Malarkey said many have “waited
worries IRCO and many nonprofits across the decades to get here.” Maybe the protestors don’t
country have about how ORR might deal with the care about the legal status of the refugees and only
unaccompanied children.
Continued on page 7
W
Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication.
