Sheriff Wheeler supports ending refugee program

By Cameron Rasmusson
Reader Staff

Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler is adding his voice to those protesting Syrian refugee resettlement in Idaho.

This Tuesday, Wheeler wrote a letter to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter urging him to fight back against refugee resettlement in Idaho. Like other Republican politicians, Wheeler fears resettlement will make Bonner County vulnerable to potential terrorist threats. Those concerns are heightened by the terrorist attacks in Paris last weekend and come days after Otter urged the federal government to halt resettlement.

“When I see a potential threat to this community, I am obligated to do everything in my power to expose that threat,” Wheeler wrote in his letter. “The resettlement of Syrian refugees is a plausible threat and must be prevented.” [CR]