Defining the Narrative

Refugee Resettlement Watch has been covering the Somalian immigration into the United States for a long time. Kansas is just one state that has been affected by this, especially

in the meat processing towns.  Emporia, at one time had as many a 1500 Somali’s living there until the Tyson plant closed. Residents there can tell disturbing accounts of daily interaction in various businesses, offices, etc. many times treating the local women as lower life forms. The immigrants were moved to Western Kansas meat processing areas. The Somalians are very closed culturally and do not assimilate well. They have been historically unwilling to take many important medical treatments including regimes for tuberculosis, even when provided by local health clinics. They also struggle with other immigrant populations as well who may settle close to these areas.

Al-Shabaab, Arabic for “The Youth”, is an Islamist Jihad organization recruiting scores of youth through the mosques in these areas. Minneapolis-St. Paul has a population of 90,000 from which to draw. The recent Al-Shabaab attacks in Nairobi, Kenya saw at least 5 members with American identification, one of which was from the Kansas City area. A 2011 report listed 50 known Somali-American members in Al-Shabaab.

H/T Ann Corcoran, Refugee Resettlement Watch