While a Western New York organization is looking to help bring refugees to Jamestown, U.S. Rep. Tom Reed said he is in support of such a move.

Recently, Journey’s End Refugee Services held a discussion at the Robert H. Jackson Center about getting the community ready to bring refugees to the city. The event was held in partnership with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

During a conference call last week with local media, Reed was asked about the process. He said he wasn’t familiar with Journey’s End, a Buffalo-based Christian ministry, but said he sees a need in having the United States support those who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war or persecution.

“When it comes to refugees like Ukraine, for example, clearly, we need to support them,” he said. “That is an American fundamental belief that we are in the land of security, the land of freedom, the land of opportunity.”

Reed highlighted the destruction of Ukraine and its people who are in need. “When you see women and children, particularly, killed in the streets of Ukraine, that to me hearkens the symbol of Lady Liberty that we all can support on both sides of the aisle,” he said.

Discussion of refugees resettling in the Jamestown area began in January 2021 with a meeting at St. Luke’s. That gathering included various representatives from local and regional nonprofits and organizations, as well as Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist.

Reed said he believes the federal government and private organizations like Journey’s End should work in partnership when it comes to resettling refugees. “You identify organizations that have made it their mission to do this,” he said. “They have some of the expertise and technology that can supplement the technology and expertise of the federal government. To me, we should be working together in order to achieve what we all want. That’s refugees coming to America in a safe and secure fashion and, at the same time, getting to America, if they so desire, as quick as they possibly can.”

Along with Jamestown, officials in Warren County recently discussed their willingness to specifically allow refugees from Ukraine to relocate there. Officials have been working with Rep. Glenn Thompson, the Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry, state Sen. Scott Hutchinson and other key leaders from the county. No final decision has been made.

County Commissioner Ben Kafferlin said Warren may be the first county government from Pennsylvania to express interest in taking Ukrainian refugees.