Flathead County commissioners are expected to vote this morning on sending a letter to federal officials voicing opposition to bringing refugees to the Flathead Valley.

The letter claims there is not enough of a vetting process in place for refugees.  

The commissioners will consider the letter at 8:45 a.m.; the regular daily public comment period begins at 8:30 a.m.

Flathead County Commission Chairwoman Pamela Holmquist said no one has approached the commissioners about bringing refugees her.

The issue was on her radar because it was the buzz of hallway discussions at a recent meeting of the Montana Association of Counties.

In February, protests in favor of and against refugee resettlement were held across the state after a group called Soft Landing proposed brining 100 Syrian refugee families to Missoula. The proposal was supported by Missoula County commissioners.

“The director of the FBI and DHS [Department of Homeland Security] have both stated on the record that it is not possible to adequately investigate the legitimacy of each refugee’s status,” the Flathead commissioners’ letter draft reads. The letter is addressed to the assistant secretary of the U.S. Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

It also states: “Influxes of refugees will overburden our community’s social services, health-care agencies, affordable housing, job opportunities and local school districts, many of which carry an impact to our local taxpayers.”

Holmquist said all three commissioners edited the original draft. She said the commissioners are most concerned about the vetting of refugees from Syria.

“All we’re asking for in the letter is that that be addressed,” Holmquist said. “They need to vet them.”

She noted that federal officials have the final say where refugees are sent.

“It’s just an opinion,” she said of the letter.

The letter also asks that an economic impact study be done of potential impacts to the local economy if refugees are brought to the valley.

The Flathead Valley chapter of ACT for America sent out an email on Wednesday encouraging people to show their support for the letter at the hearing. The national ACT for America group says its mission is to promote national security. The Flathead Valley chapter on Feb. 23 hosted a meeting emphasizing the possible risks of bringing refugees to communities. Around 460 people attended.

“It is very important we show the County Commissioners our support,” chapter leaders Caroline Solomon and Calvin Beringer wrote in the Wednesday email. “We are asking all of you to join us, invite your friends and family in the Flathead and make it clear that our community is not ready to take in ‘refugees’ who cannot be properly vetted.”

A week after the ACT for America event, around 80 people gathered at Kalispell’s Depot Park in support of welcoming refugees. Montana Human Rights Network Affiliate Love Lives Here headed the event, which attracted a handful of counter-protesters.

Reporter Megan Strickland can be reached at 758-4459 or mstrickland@dailyinterlake.com.