L. Brooks Patterson

PONTIAC — Inflammatory remarks are nothing new to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. But now that many bizarre, xenophobic and sectarian statements have been made about Syrian refugees, Patterson had to put extra efforts to outdo his fellow Republican politicians.

Patterson wrote a letter to Pontiac Mayor Deirdre Waterman urging her to stop plans to build homes for Syrian refugees in the city.

The Oakland CEO said Syrian newcomers pose “imminent danger” to the people of the county. 

“I am dismayed by Pontiac’s agreement to develop a ‘Syrian Refugee Village’ within its borders,” he wrote.

Developer Ismael Basha told the Detroit Free Press the project aimed to provide shelter and humanitarian services to refugees. 

Patterson acknowledged that the project is “well-intentioned” but said the city cannot guarantee that the homes will not draw “ISIS infiltrators.”

Patterson’s comments come after at least 31 governors, including Rick Snyder, said they will stop efforts to bring Syrian refugees to Michigan.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, 40 of the 75 Syrian refugees who resettled in Michigan during the last fiscal year live in Oakland County. 

Accepting refugees is a matter of federal policy. And the Civil Rights Act outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.