Catholic charities is the volunteer agency that resettles refugees here in Louisiana. Places like Baton Rouge and New Orleans have already resettled a number of Syrian refugees. According to the Diocese Of Lafayette we have not received any just yet. “There is nothing concrete right now, no requests for our area,” Said Monsignor Curtis Mallet, Vicar General for the Diocese.

Monsignor Curtis Mallet, Vicar General for the Diocese says before refugees would be placed in Acadiana — there is a very lengthy process involving the department of homeland security. Mallet says the church’s involvement in resettling refugees would first come from the Office of Immigration and Migration. That would be before it gets to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Certified immigration counselors work on the paperwork. Again, it’s my understanding is that the security vetting happens yet again,” Said Mallet.

In September The White house announced plans to resettle 10-thousand Syrian refugees in 2016. According to the US State Department, the government has resettled about 18-hundred Syrian nationals since January 1st, 14 of them in Louisiana. Lafayette resident Ernest Guilbeau says there’s just too much uncertainty right now. “How are you going to find the good ones? We have enough risks down here already,” Said Guilbeau.

Mallet says the church has received a number of calls from parishioners — some of them concerned and others looking to help. He says two values should be taken into consideration in this process.

“Our mission as the church, as the people of God is to welcome the stranger, to help people who are in need, but we also have a responsibility to protect our local community,” Said Mallet.