Orange County Board of Supervisors Approves Plan to Help Afghan Refugees, Residents Share Concerns

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a three-year service plan for Afghan refugees entering the county as concerned residents discussed their hesitancy at the Sept. 14 meeting.

Krishna Murphy, an Orange County resident, told the board that immigrants are “highly valued members of society,” but he is concerned over who is being allowed in.

“Responding to the proposition that we accommodate refugees in Orange County, and I’m not against that in principle,” he said. “I think that America is the land of opportunity and America has prospered by the immigrants that have come here.”

“In this case, who is it that we are bringing into our country, what’s being added?” Murphy asked. “How many of these people are actually Taliban? Has there been any vetting done?”

Another county resident said she’s not against refugees coming into the country but advised the board to prioritize the need of residents.

“You have provided us with zero framework with which you will be vetting these refugees,” she said. “Where you will be placing them, how will we place them anywhere when we cannot place the homeless individuals who currently reside in our country?