Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Growing Number of States Refuse to Accept Syrian Refugees in Wake of Paris Attacks

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Nov 16, 2015, 12:28 PM ET
Carl Court/Getty Images

A growing number of states are refusing to take in Syrian refugees amid heightened security concerns following Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris.
Michigan and Alabama were the first states in the country to refuse relocating Syrian refugees on Sunday, and they have now been joined by Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana, Illinois, Massachusetts, Arizona, North Carolina and Mississippi.
Govs. Rick Snyder of Michigan, Robert Bentley of Alabama, Greg Abbott of Texas, and Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas said in separate statements Sunday and today that their states would not be relocating refugees from the war-torn country until the U.S. Department of Homeland Security fully reviewed its screening procedures.
"Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration," Snyder said. "But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents."
Nearly 130 people died in the coordinated attacks in Paris, and at least one of the attackers was carrying a Syrian passport, which has led authorities to consider he could have entered Europe as a refugee. The alleged mastermind of the attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, is believed to have slipped into Syria this year.
The United States in September pledged to take 15,000 refugees fleeing war-torn Syria for the fiscal year that began in October; an estimated 85,000 total refugees are expected to be resettled in the U.S. in 2016, Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sept. 20.
“I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way,” Bentley said. "I will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people. Please continue to join me in praying for those who have suffered loss and for those who will never allow freedom to fade at the hands of terrorists."
In a letter to President Obama today, Abbott said he is directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Refugee Resettlement program to stop relocating Syrian refugees.
"Given the tragic attacks in Paris and the threats we have already seen, Texas cannot participate in any program that will result in Syrian refugees -- any one of whom could be connected to terrorism -- being resettled in Texas," Abbott wrote in the letter. "And I urge you, as President, to halt your plans to allow Syrians to be resettled anywhere in the United States."
Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana issued an executive order today to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in that state. In neighboring Mississippi, Gov. Phil Bryant said he'd do "everything humanly possible" to stop more Syrian refugees to be placed in his state.
"The policy of bringing these individuals into the country is not only misguided, it is extremely dangerous," he wrote in a statement.
In the Midwest, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence also joined the growing group of governors.
“Effective immediately, I am directing all state agencies to suspend the resettlement of additional Syrian refugees in the state of Indiana pending assurances from the federal government that proper security measures have been achieved," Pence said in a statement.
Although the federal government has not contacted Massachusetts regarding Syrian refugees, in a statement to ABC News Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker said ensuring security should be a priority.
“At this time I find the idea of accepting Syrian refugees highly concerning and have no plans to accept them into our state and believe the federal government has an obligation to carry out extensive background checks on everyone seeking to enter the United States," he wrote.

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