Posted on 11/16/2015 9:47:39 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
"Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values," [Obama] said.
Six Republican governors have announced that Syrian refugees won't be allowed to resettle in their states in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks in Paris.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley issued statements Sunday saying that they wanted to prioritize the safety of the residents in their states. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a GOP presidential candidate; Arkansas Gov. Gov. Asa Hutchinson; and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence joined them on Monday.
"Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration," Snyder said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents."
The governor had previously said he was working with the Obama administration on plans to resettle Syrian refugees, with at least 200 already relocated by one agency, according to the newspaper.
Snyder said his state wouldn't allow for any Syrian refugees until the Department of Homeland Security reviewed its procedures for accepting migrants, according to the Free Press.
Alabama currently has a single refugee processing center, in Mobile, approved by the State Department, but it hasn't relocated any Syrian refugees, according to Bentley's office.
âThe acts of terror committed over the weekend are a tragic reminder to the world that evil exists and takes the form of terrorists who seek to destroy the basic freedoms we will always fight to preserve," Bentley said in his statement.
"I will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people," he added.
"The threat posed to Texas by ISIS is very real," Abbott wrote in a letter Monday urging President Obama to halt his plans, pointing to a foiled ISIS-inspired plot in Garland, Texas, in May, among other incidents.
"A Syrian 'refugee' appears to have been part of the Paris terror attack. American humanitarian compassion could be exploited to expose Americans to similar deadly danger," Abbott wrote.
"All departments, budget units, agencies, offices, entities, and officers of the executive branch of the State of Louisiana are authorized and directed to utilize all lawful means to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the State of Louisiana while this Order is in effect," Jindal wrote in an executive order issued Monday.
"The Louisiana State Police, upon receiving information of a Syrian refugee already relocated within the State of Louisiana, are authorized and directed to utilize all lawful means to monitor and avert threats within the State of Louisiana," he added.
"As Governor I will oppose Syrian refugees being relocated to Arkansas," Hutchinson tweeted.
"Indiana has a long tradition of opening our arms and homes to refugees from around the world but, as governor, my first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers," Pence wrote in a statement. "Unless and until the state of Indiana receives assurances that proper security measures are in place, this policy will remain in full force and effect."
A top aide to Obama said Sunday that the Obama administration still plans to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into the U.S. over the next year despite the Paris attacks.
"We had very robust vetting procedures for those refugees," White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said on Fox News.
"There are women and children, orphans of this war, and I think we need to do our part along with our allies to provide them a safe haven," Rhodes added.
The plan to allow the Syrian refugees into the U.S. has faced fresh criticism after the attack that left 129 dead and hundreds more injured. At least one suspect reportedly slipped into France among asylum seekers.
Obama maintained during remarks earlier Monday at the G-20 meeting in Turkey that the U.S. would continue to accept the refugees, including Syrians, only after "rigorous" security screenings.
"Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values," he said.
Yep, that’s why I added the /s/ tag to my comments about the “strong letter”
With this governor, we will take anything good we can get!!!!
The only question I have is WHY isn’t TENNESSEE on this list?
If We The People lead, the leaders will follow.
Sorry. That’s not how I meant it. Questioning that Illinois would go against the One.
Here is his quote about suspending refugees to TN “...until states can become a partner with the federal government in the vetting process.”
Huh? How about just saying NEVER?
That is the same question I asked Sen. Mark Green. In TN our Rep. Reps. are/have there hands tied by our âDemâ Governor. They do all they can I due poke then with e-mails and phone calls, but it is 100% uphill all the way.
G....?
G?????
YOU HATE TRUMP AND GEORGIA TOO!
DiFi is not the governor.
Moonbeam is, and he's far too clueless to be scared.
I called Gov Sandoval’s office today. They hadn’t heard anything yet on his stand.
After I posted, I decided to call anyway. The Governor may be motivated to act if only to get some irate people off his back.
GOOD!
We are seizing the momentum.
I hope they listen to us.
Moonbeam is clueless but once in a while he get something right. Not necessarily for the the right reason.
I would be surprised but not shocked if he asked for a delay.
He really likes the local aliens just south of the board and might not want completion for government money.
Hope there are a lot of us calling. Although I don’t have much faith in him.
do you have any specific info on what Gov Haslem has issued on the refugee subject?
He just refused refugees.
Growing number of states refuse refugees
Link to List of all Governors phone numbers at # 144 .
If we don't make those phone calls, then who will? ...(yeah, dangling participle or something.)
I don’t either.
The Hamptons?
Posted on another thread. I want these governors to mean what they say.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3361105/posts?page=19#19
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