Experts say states lack legal authority to block refugees

At least eight governors say they will not accept Syrian refugees in their states in response to Friday’s attacks in Paris.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama, whose administration recently pledged to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees, argued Monday that the United States needs to allow them because many are fleeing terrorism.

None of the governors has the authority to prevent refugees from moving into a state, but many indicated they would not make it easy.

The discussions were prompted following an earlier announcement in September from the Obama administration saying the US would take in 10,000 Syrian refugees by September 2016. Michigan’s “first priority is protecting the safety of our residents”, he said.

Obama also condemned the Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz’s and Jeb Bush’s woefully hypocritical arguments that the US only accept Christian refugees as “not American”.

Edmonson said his agency doesn’t know the identities or specific addresses of any Syrian refugees already in Louisiana nor is he necessarily seeking them. The State Department said the refugees would be spread nationwide, though many go on to places where they have family or cultural connections, such as Detroit, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. No refugees have been resettled in Alabama, and in his statement Sunday, Gov. Bentley said things would continue that way. The passport used to enter Greece in October has spurred bigoted backlash against Syrian refugees and further cemented right-wing justifications for not allowing refugees sanctuary. After the attacks on Paris, people are right to be concerned that terrorists could infiltrate this country as they did in France.

– Hawaii Governor David Ige said his state would welcome the refugees.

“As the federal elected body that exercises oversight and authorizes federal spending”, implored Scott, “please take any action available through the powers of the United States Congress to prevent federal allocations toward the relocation of Syrian refugees without extensive examination into how this would affect our homeland security”. “The governor has said he wants to make MI a first stop for refugees and he still adamantly believes in making the state a welcoming place”.

That is a switch from Rubio’s other statements this fall, in which he voiced skepticism about proper vetting but still left the door open to admitting refugees.

Refugees are generally invited to move to the United States after being referred to a State Department Resettlement Support Center by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The best evidence that this system is working, he added, is that there has not been a single act of terrorism perpetrated within the U.S.by any of the more than 3 million refugees who have been admitted through the country’s resettlement program.

As the war in Syria enters its fifth year without a solution, more and more people are choosing to take matters into their own hands and enter Europe illegally-by boat or by foot-only presenting themselves to overwhelmed authorities once they are already there.

“Ultimately, I do think Europeans and North Americans have to be a part of reaching out to the victims of terror in the Middle East and providing safe refuge in order to help solve the crisis”, he said.

Bentley’s statement said neighboring states had accepted Syrian refugees; Louisiana has accepted 14; Syrian refugees also have settled in Atlanta, Memphis and Nashville.