December 17, 2019

The Honorable Michael R. Pompeo

Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520

Re: Executive Order 13888

Dear Secretary Pompeo:

As County Executive of Onondaga County, New York, I write in support of refugee resettlement
pursuant to Executive Order 13888 “Enhancing State and Local Involvement in Resettlement” for the
period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020 (and Federal Fiscal Year 2020/2021). Onondaga
County values the many positive cultural and economic contributions that refugees bring to our
community, and we welcome resettlement in Onondaga County.

The refugee resettlement program has a long and respected history in Onondaga County. Refugees
who have resettled in Onondaga County have proven to be industrious, family oriented and resilient
members of our community. The County enjoys widespread community support for refugee
resettlement, where dedicated local agencies and community stakeholders recognize refugees as an
integral part of our community – past, present and future. Onondaga County is proud to be part of
the refugee resettlement program, keeping families united, assisting in humanitarian protections, and
helping refugees integrate and thrive in our community.

In particular, Onondaga County has two refugee resettlement agencies: InterFaith Works and
Catholic Charities. Both have served the Central New York refugee community for over 40 years
and strive to affirm the dignity of each person and every faith community. They provide an array of
resettlement and post-resettlement services supporting refugees from arrival through U.S.
citizenship. Wrap-around services include educational programming from preschool through the
adult years, immigration legal assistance, citizenship preparation classes, health care coordination,
mental health supports, and employment services. Onondaga County, along with our partners
Interfaith Works and Catholic Charities, considers it an honor to have facilitated a fresh start for
thousands of refugees in our community.
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Onondaga County is the social services district and local governmental unit for the county. To that
end, on behalf of Onondaga County and jurisdictions within, the undersigned consents to
resettlement of refugees in Onondaga County.

Sincerely yours,

COUNTY OF ONONDAGA
By:

J. Ryan McMahon, II
Onondaga County Executive

cc: Carol O’Connell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population,
Refugees and Migration, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Dept. of State

Attachment: County Jurisdiction