Stephanie Hirsch, the Eau Claire city manager, expressed surprise at the hostility and fear that arose in the community last fall when news of several dozen refugees arriving legally spread. Residents reacted with misinformation, including on a billboard, and packed a city meeting to protest the resettlements. Hirsch, a native of Eau Claire, recalled the community's history of welcoming Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia and expressed excitement about embracing different cultures.
However, some residents, like Fred Kappus, vice chairman of the Eau Claire Republican Party, believed the city should prioritize addressing homelessness before welcoming refugees. The tension over refugee resettlement in Eau Claire mirrors similar conflicts in other midsize U.S. communities.
