(Editor's note: This is Part 1 in a two-part series on the "refugee scam" taking place in America.)

You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to be aware that immigrants are inundating our country. The Obama administration is welcoming them as though they're the solution to all the problems we're facing.

The United Nations is in charge of parceling out these people and tells the U.S. how many, and who, we will get. The State Department takes it from there, deciding who goes where.

Hundreds of these people are just deposited in towns and cities across the country, usually with no notice to the recipient municipalities and with no assistance for them to deal with the increased population and their needs.

Who are they? Well, it all depends. Many are escapees from countries torn by domestic and political strife. Many are those who see the U.S. as the "land of milk and honey" and, while our streets aren't paved in gold, our asphalt and concrete is hundreds of times better than their dirt roads.

TRENDING: Man allegedly tries to rob a cab driver at gunpoint, ends up getting shot with own firearm

Many are religious refugees, persecuted in their homelands because of their beliefs. We take them all, but there is a clear preference on the part of the Obama administration for Muslims. Despite the fact that Christian refugees are the targets of Muslim violence, most of the refugees are Muslim.

In addition to the Middle Eastern people welcomed by Obama – he aims for more than 100,000 in 2017 – we have Central and South American adults and children, legal and illegal, who continue to stream across our porous borders. And none of this takes into account those thousands getting in illegally from Eastern Europe and Asia.

Security is a concern, especially since the FBI has said it's impossible to vet these people for terrorist connections.

I knew the feds have a $5 billion-plus official refugee resettlement program, which is coordinated through contracts with agencies like the International Institute, Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal and other agencies and Catholic charities.

These "nonprofit" groups don't do this gratis, so when a presentation was made at St. Monica Church that there would be a meeting to introduce parishioners to the possibility of the parish sponsoring one or more refugee families, I decided to attend.

I wasn't interested in supporting the program but wanted to see the size of the turnout and hear the sales pitch.

We were told the program is run by Catholic Charities of the East Bay, and Stephen P. Mullin is the parish outreach manager. He said all of the parishes in the diocese of Oakland, California – in fact, all Catholic churches – are encouraged to participate.

The response was interesting. It was a large turnout of about 50 on a weeknight. When asked why they were there, many said they wanted to "give back."

Considering this is an affluent area, the religious guilt factor was clear. These are people who've had material success in their lives and feel that somehow they need to "pay" for it. But since this is also a theme of many homilies heard weekly in church, the guilt wasn't surprising.

We were asked if any in the group were themselves immigrants and what their experiences were. One woman actually broke down in tears as she told her story of how difficult it was for her to adjust to U.S. life. She came from a Central American country and didn't specify if she came here legally or if she's now a citizen.

I wondered, but no one asked. And she didn't volunteer.

We were given an information packet explaining the program and how people can participate in welcoming refugees. The moderator didn't go into the details of the information packet, but the overview was that a family was designated to arrive at the airport, the parish would greet them there, after having have set up living arrangements, provided food, clothing and basic necessities. And more.

Much more.

There was huge emphasis on the difficulties strangers to the U.S. have in adjusting, and lots of references to "Christian charity" in helping them.

It was acknowledged it's difficult to find affordable housing in our area. I asked why these people don't get settled in less expensive areas, but I was told, "We all have to participate."

I asked about the financing of the program and mentioned that Catholic Charities and other religious groups do get paid for their participation. That was scarcely out of my mouth when the parish priest, Fr. Wayne Campbell, interrupted me bluntly, saying this was not political.

"This is our church mission," he said. "We are a family, and we welcome them."

I doubt any of those people are aware that Catholic Charities is a $3.8 billion operation, with more than $2 billion of that coming from the federal government and about $70 million for the refugee program.

I asked about the health checks given these refugees and raised the issue of measles epidemics – in Arizona now – and tuberculosis in Vermont, Wisconsin, Louisiana and other states.

I almost was shouted down by the group, which said the only reason there were outbreaks was because Americans hadn't had their shots!

When I asked the moderator if they could vouch for the good health of these people, I was told they depend on the U.N. and the U.S. government to do that, and they had "faith" they were doing a good job.

Oh.

I asked if we have a preference for Christians and was told, "No. We just want to help people."

They also have no concern about security or terrorism – depending on the U.N. and the feds to do that.

They added that Muslims have cultural differences, but that "they'll learn."

These people live in another universe.

They'll meet again to coordinate the parish program, and I've no doubt people will participate.

As the conversation continued, I looked at the information packet and realized these people aren't just "welcomed," they're given carte blanche to just about anything they possibly want. They're given more "help" than down-on-their-luck American citizens get.

The moderator said that when the family arrives at the airport, they're given $1,000, but that doesn't go very far which is why they need our help. The family in this case is a single mother with three children from Eritrea

Judging by what they'll be given, the parish and American citizens will provide everything for a very nice way of life.

Next week, a look at what these people will get free – through the largesse and guilt, in my view, of foolish Americans.

Follow Barbara Simpson on Facebook.

Media wishing to interview Barbara Simpson, please contact [email protected].

