International Rescue Committee cancels plans to expand in Asheville

Beth Walton | The Citizen-Times

ASHEVILLE - A global aid and humanitarian organization announced Thursday it was cancelling plans to make Asheville a resettlement site for 150 refugees.

The move comes six months after the inauguration of Republican President Donald Trump and one year since staff with the International Rescue Committee conducted an exploratory visit in Asheville.

During meetings with stakeholders last June, the IRC received "overwhelming" support to move forward, said Sean Piazza, a spokesman for the large nonprofit.

But, executive orders issued by the new administration place in question admission of refugees to the United States in 2017 and beyond, he said.

"Unfortunately, in light of these current policies, IRC is not in a position to continue opening an office in Asheville," Piazza said.

The courts in January halted Trump's initial order, which banned travel from seven majority-Muslim countries and indefinitely suspended entry to Syrian refugees.

Trump then scaled back the program by removing Iraq from the list and making the Syria refugee ban only temporary, but that order was blocked by the courts, too.

At the heart of the legal wrangling is whether Trump's proposed ban violates the Constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion.

As a candidate, Trump called for a "Muslim ban," comments that came back to haunt him as president when the courts determined that even his scaled-down order was "rooted in religious animus and intended to bar Muslims from this country."

The IRC is in conversation with the Trump administration to ensure the United State's commitment to offering a safe haven for the world's most vulnerable citizens, Piazza said.

"We ask supportive communities to convey this same message to your members of Congress," said Piazza. "We appreciate the warm reception and support we received in Asheville."

The IRC helped resettle nearly 10,000 refugees in 2015 including people from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

Even before Trump's orders, the expansion of refugee services into Western North Carolina was challenged some of the region's more conservative residents.

U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Buncombe, opposed the IRC's plan in August.

A spokesman for the representative said at the time that the IRC's proposal was made without the consultation of important stakeholders and without an accurate assessment of the housing and employment opportunities realistically available.

Americans should show refugees compassion, but not at the sacrifice of security, Meadows said at a town hall meeting in Flat Rock that month.

The crowd of more than 225 people applauded when the congressman said "enemies" were trying to take advantage of the United States' "generosity."

An estimated 24,200 immigrants, ranging from exchange students to people with work visas and refugee status, live in the Asheville metropolitan region, comprised of Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties.

Since the day after Trump's election, there has been an influx in calls for people wanting assurance they can stay in the United States, Shoshana Fried, an immigration lawyer at Pisgah Legal Services, said in February.

"They are worried about a change in policy and unsure what is going to happen to their families," said Fried, whose clients are mostly from Mexico and Central America.

"The executive order has created some trepidation about what is going to happen down the pipeline," she said.

A crowd so big gathered at the Islamic Center of Asheville the month after the first executive order was made, that people had to congregate outside.

More than 200 people went to the community meeting to stand in solidarity with the region’s Muslim population. There are around 100 Muslim people living in the area.

“It’s somewhat of a difficult time for us and some of our members, and the support Asheville has shown us so far has been unbelievable,” Khalid Bashir, president of the center, told the crowd .

Bashir said at the time that he hadn't heard complaints about harassment or discrimination, but that it brings him peace to know the community is behind them. “Our mosque is open,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.