St. Louis County commissioners delay vote — again — on refugee resettlement

After hearing more than three hours of impassioned public testimony — delivered over the phone, through voicemails left in advance and via online video — the St. Louis County Board of Commissioners voted once again to table a vote over whether to allow refugees to be resettled in the northeastern Minnesota county. 

It was the first time a Minnesota county has taken up the heated issue of consenting to refugee resettlement in several months, since a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from enforcing an executive order that allowed states and counties to reject refugees from resettling within their jurisdictions. 

But after hearing from about 90 residents, and debating the issue for another two hours, the commissioners voted 4-3 to send the resolution back to county administration until the federal courts decide whether Trump’s executive order is constitutional. 

The board members split along geographic lines. The three Duluth commissioners supported the resolution, which consents to refugee resettlement in the county, and wanted to vote to approve it. The four commissioners who represent the county’s more rural districts supported postponing the vote. 

County Board Chair Mike Jugovich of Chisholm said the vote, which was largely symbolic, wouldn’t change anything. 

“Refugees are welcome here, regardless,” Jugovich said. “We do not have the ability to stop it.  I know people out there think we have that ability. We do not. It could change with a court case. But as of right now, we can’t.”

But commissioners from Duluth, including Beth Olson, who introduced the resolution, said voting to consent to resettlement would have sent an important message that people and families are welcome in St. Louis County. 

“Without a vote, I think it really sends the message that it’s not a welcoming place,” she said. 

Rural versus urban districts

Much of the uproar about refugee resettlement is the result of an executive order issued by President Trump last year, which required state and local governments to explicitly approve refugee resettlement.

At least 20 Minnesota counties voted on the issue late last year and in early January. All voted to continue to accept refugees, except Beltrami County, which became one of the first counties in the country to vote to refuse to allow for refugee resettlement. 

St. Louis County had planned to vote on the issue in January, but the board's more rural members voted 4-3 to delay that vote until Tuesday’s meeting, which was originally supposed to be held in the small Iron Range town of Buhl.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public in-person participation was not allowed, and the meeting was moved to the city of Virginia’s government center to accommodate the meeting’s technology needs. The move rankled many opponents of the consent measure. 

Three of the commissioners attended the meeting in person. Four attended via video. Many opponents of refugee resettlement demonstrated outside the meeting. 

People on both sides of the divisive issue flooded the board with phone calls and voicemails. Nearly two-thirds of those who made comments were opposed to refugee resettlement. Most were from the Iron Range and other more rural parts of the sprawling northeastern Minnesota county. 

Many insisted that because of COVID-19 and its subsequent economic fallout — including the shutdown of many taconite mines and processing plants on the Iron Range — now is not the time to welcome newcomers. 

“We are struggling with jobs the way it is,” said Teri Radtke, 61, of Embarrass. “I believe that we should just take care of our people right now, until we’re back on our feet.”

Beverly Bakken, 80, of Hibbing, said she was disappointed the meeting wasn’t postponed again, so people could testify in person. 

“I am very against having refugees come into our country, especially now with this pandemic,” she said. “We should be putting our people from our country first. Americans come first.”

Many people also complained that immigrants aren’t interested in becoming a part of what they called American society. 

"Years ago when you came as a refugee, you assimilated into American society, and that is no longer the way that it is,” said Lisa Westby, 57, of Britt. “And It’s a big concern for safety, and the families up here.”

But many supporters of refugee settlement noted how Minnesota’s Iron Range, in particular, was settled by immigrants — from Italy, eastern Europe and elsewhere — who worked long, hard hours in the mines. 

“Most of us ourselves are children and grandchildren of immigrants,” said Valerie Myntti, 69, of Ely, many of whom “came with not much more than the shirts on their backs.”

Myntti also argued that refugees can help revitalize rural communities with declining populations. 

Grant Hauschild, 31, of Hermantown, urged commissioners to support refugees on behalf of his young son Henry, who he said would be strengthened by living in a community that is open to diversity and cares for those facing hardship. 

“My family moved to this community because we believe in what it means to be ‘Minnesota Nice’ and to look out for one’s neighbors,” he said. “We’d be deeply saddened should our community close itself off from diversity, and from helping others.”

Fear and misinformation

Refugee resettlement has barely touched St. Louis County — or much of northern Minnesota. Only one refugee has been resettled in the county since 2011. 

Still, many people who participated in Tuesday’s meeting expressed fear of refugees coming to northeastern Minnesota in large numbers. They cited unspecified problems in the Twin Cities and St. Cloud, which have hosted the most refugees per capita in the state. 

“We do not need, nor do we want any refugees, especially in St. Louis County,” said Steve Lapatka, 64, of Virginia. “If the other counties want a problem, they can [have] their problem, like Minneapolis-St. Paul.”

Commissioner Keith Nelson of Fayal Township said many of his constituents have a genuine fear of refugee resettlement. “That doesn’t make them irrational,” he said. “The constituents I have, have overwhelmingly told me over the last several months that they don’t agree with this.”

Many people referred to refugees as “illegal immigrants” or “illegal aliens,” even though refugees fleeing war or persecution go through an extensive vetting process that can last for years before they are able to enter the United States. 

Some attendees also cited a rumor that there may be “thousands” of refugees who could be housed in a closed school in the small town of Buhl. 

But there are only five agencies in Minnesota that assist with refugee resettlement. And because St. Louis County is more than 50 miles away from any of them, the only refugees who could be placed in the county are those who would be joining a family member.

Jugovich, the board chair, said he was dismayed by the amount of misinformation he heard from constituents.

“I feel I failed to some degree. I’ve been working on getting the word out since January,” he said. “It’s important as we move forward that we understand fact from fiction. 

It’s unclear if — or when — the St. Louis County board could take up the issue again. County Attorney Mark Rubin told the commissioners it could take a year or a year and a half for the issue to be settled in the federal courts. 

In the meantime, Commissioner Keith Musolf of Hermantown, who supported resettlement, said the order has divided the county.

“This executive order is doing what it was intended to do,” he said. “It's divided us and it's divided our constituents.”