Refugee Resettlement & Illegal Immigration: Modern Day Indentured Servitude with a Twist?

Why would we want to hurt immigrants AND taxpayers?

It is very challenging to figure out how many refugees come to the State of South Dakota each year, because some come on federal programs, others come through efforts like Uniting for Ukraine and Cuban/Haitian Entrants, and some come illegally.

The Dakota Institute suggests between 700 and 4000 immigrants move to South Dakota each year. The City of Aberdeen suggests about 500 of these immigrants are refugees and about 300 secondary migrants (around 4000 people in the past 5 years). The Lutheran Social Services report to the State of South Dakota suggests the state has provided specialized services to at least 743 refugees through an official program in the past four years. The American Immigration Council says South Dakota has about 11,000 undocumented immigrants.

While the number of refugees and immigrants is not certain, we do know that Governor Noem signed the state up for the federal refugee program in 2019 and South Dakota began receiving the latest round of refugees in 2020. These refugees are mostly from Africa and Central and South American. Most of the Africans are Muslims. Most of the Central and South Americans are Christians. A number have gang affiliations.

Sadly, these people generally arrive without jobs, a social network, or any connection to the South Dakota culture. It is not unusual for their view of work to be different than what is common in the US and for them to have radically different views on family structure, how women should be treated, and violence. Many do not speak English and their children are often way behind in school. In Sioux Falls, for example, 12% of the public school students are English language learners.

Since they are here either illegally or on special programs, the refugees must get jobs. Due to language and skill deficits many are thrown into low skill jobs. And even when work conditions are not good, the do not complain to avoid issues that may create immigration challenges that send them home.

So basically they are indentured servants.

While employers relish the cheap labor that helps reduce wages for everyone, the refugees are often caught with poor living conditions and a low paying job and the native born taxpayer is caught holding the bag (the employer has no responsibility).

These refugees are eligible for federal benefits, such as cash assistance through Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), health insurance through Medicaid, and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). With the Medicaid expansion more of those medical costs will be shifted directly to the South Dakota taxpayer (right now part of it is covered by the Feds). Health, human, and social services consume about 40% of the state budget (almost $1 billion - see page 9 of the budget document). In addition, the refugees get access to free English classes and legal help. Also, the taxpayers fund subsidized housing and transportation.

When something is not good for the people who are being relocated or the taxpayers, it is time for change.