Christopher Coen
Melissa Sogard
nancylee1
It seems that Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas has asked the State Department for a two-year moratorium on refugee resettlement to that city, according to an article in the Nashua Telegraph. Michael McGandy, site director for the International Institute of New Hampshire says that once the State Department decides, his organization will make plans for resettlement in other areas.
As Manchester city officials attempt to put a halt on new refugees being placed in the city, it’s unknown what the impact would be on Nashua if the moratorium were granted.Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of State requesting a two-year moratorium on new refugees being resettled in the city.
The state’s largest city has been the primary resettlement location for refugees in New Hampshire. Between 2002 and 2009, Manchester received 1,807 of the state’s 2,966 new refugees, or roughly 60 percent.
By comparison, Nashua, the state’s second-largest city, received only 70 refugees during that same period…
Gatsas made the request because of concern over whether refugees in the city are getting the services they need. Manchester’s moratorium request is pending.
Michael McGandy, site director for the International Institute of New Hampshire, said it will ultimately be up to the Department of State whether to grant the request. Once a decision is made, McGandy said his organization will make plans for resettlement in other areas…
As for why there are so few refugees in Nashua compared to other smaller cities in the state, McGandy said it’s simply a matter of geography. His organization is based in Manchester, so it prefers to place refugees there so they have direct access to the institute’s services… Read more here
