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Refugees

Governors' Reactions to Syrian Refugee Resettlement Amid Terror Concerns

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the United States grapples with the aftermath of the coordinated attacks in Paris, several U.S. governors are threatening to halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states. This move has been met with criticism from immigration experts, who argue that governors have no legal authority to block refugees from settling in their communities. The governors' concerns are centered around the potential for terrorists to use the refugees as cover to sneak across borders. However, immigration experts point out that under the Refugee Act of 1980, governors cannot legally block refugees from settling in their communities.

Key Takeaways:

  • 26 U.S. governors have expressed opposition to allowing Syrian refugees into their states, citing concerns about national security.
  • Republican Governors' Association Chairman, Scott Walker, has stated that the U.S. should not take in any more refugees from Syria.
  • Immigration expert Lavinia Limon, president and CEO of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigration, has pointed out that governors have no legal authority to block refugees from settling in their communities.
  • The Obama administration has pledged to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next 12 months.
  • The U.S. State Department has stated that refugees will be spread across the country.
  • Governors such as Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut and Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island have expressed willingness to accept refugees from Syria.
  • President Barack Obama has pledged to resettle about 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. over the next 12 months.

Statistics:

  • About 200 Syrian refugees have been resettled in Texas last fiscal year.
  • 25 Syrian refugees have settled in Washington state from October 2014 through September of this year.
  • Since 1989, about 7,000 refugees have been resettled in Vermont.
  • About 169 Syrian refugees have settled in Illinois since 2010.
  • More than 63,000 refugees have been resettled in the U.S. since 1980.

Sources:

  • "U.S. Governors Threaten to Block Syrian Refugees Amid Paris Attacks"
  • Refugee Act of 1980
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigration
  • The New York Times
  • The Washington Post
  • CNN
  • BBC News
  • Al Jazeera
  • The Detroit Free Press

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