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.
“The 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.
Kansas and Oklahoma are saying no to the jihadi invasion.
CA Governor Brown told CNN all the refugees could come to CA and he would declare December a Muslim holiday in addition to giving additional paid time off for state government employees to celebrate our rich culture.
I want them to say just how they are going to do it and then tell us why they aren’t doing the same thing about ILLEGALS?
Given that it’s Gov. Moonbeam, I have no idea if you are kidding or not.
One step at a time...
Wrong! Alabama was first, and we WON’T back down.
Even the black guys here in the democrat party are for the blocking of the Syrian “refugees”.
PA is not on that list.
We have a POS lackey of Obama in Wolf.
Damn good question! It's only 'bluster' for now anyway, but I like the sentiment.
It only takes a few. They’re already in NOLA and other cities.
And yet Kentucky’s Governor just chided that “we are our brother’s keeper” and Kentucky will receive all. I wonder what Bevin thinks. The last I heard, he was still deciding.
VERY good question. Impatiently waiting for their response....
Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia announced that the sovereign state of Georgia will be taking no more refugees.
What?
MA, ME and WI refuse but my Repub gov in Maryland hasn’t yet made a stand?
Anyone know if AZ Governor Ducey’s announcement is a done deal?
Call him.
Be polite, but firm.
The states are not Revolting, Obama IS!
If this is an accurate list, 17 states and growing are telling traitor Obama to shove it:
US: Alabama; US: Arizona; US: Arkansas; US: Florida; US: Georgia; US: Illinois; US: Indiana; US: Louisiana; US: Maine; US: Massachusetts; US: Michigan; US: Mississippi; US: New Hampshire; US: North Carolina; US: Ohio; US: Texas; US: Wisconsin;
Islam has been waging holy war, jihad, against all civilized nations for 1400 years. Islam is the enemy in this war on terrorism.
Allowing the enemy to immigrate, infiltrate or otherwise invade our country is madness. Allowing Muslim refugees in is a Trojan Horse.
Giving aid and comfort to, aiding and abetting, harboring the enemy is treason!
[ nothing but LIES come from this administration ....
THERE IS NO WAY TO VET SYRIAN OR ANY OTHER MIDDLE EASTERN “REFUGEEâ€
why are we not taking CHRISTIAN REFUGEES ]
As much as the words “Glen Beck” are Verboten round these parts, he is working with a group to vet Syrian Christians and resettle them into Slovakia! Pretty much the group he is workign with had to go AROUND the scum in this administration.
Maybe not, because he will be waiting for the other 7 out of the 57.
Yes, it is.
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