Resettlement officials call for admission of Syrian refugees to US

Although more than half of US governors have objected to plans to resettle Syrian refugees in the United States, with some declaring that they won’t allow resettlement in their states, the federal government controls resettlement programs.

During a 90-minute conference call with 34 governors on Novermber 17, top White House officials insisted that the US screening program for refugees was the most rigorous vetting for any category of traveler to the United States.

Another U.S. governor, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, who also is running for the Republican party’s 2016 presidential nomination, on Saturday sent a letter to President Barack Obama expressing “grave concern” about allowing Syrian migrants into the country, and saying it would be “prudent to pause the process”.

The Obama administration announced in September that it wanted to resettle about 10,000 Syrian refugees in the USA by the same time next year.

GOP leaders arranged a task force Tuesday to develop legislation to address the Syrian refugee plan after authorities said at least one of the eight terrorists involved in the Paris terrorist attacks originated in Syria.

Some of the governors encouraged further communication by the White House to ensure that they are able to better respond to questions from the public about the refugee screening and resettlement process, the White House said. He said told them about how his own family originally came to the US from Ireland about 100 years ago. But they can deny support to programs that help refugees survive and integrate, and they can try to pressure Washington to direct refugees somewhere else.

Between October 1, 2011 and November 14 of this year, the United States admitted 2,159 Syrian refugees, according to the State Department.

“People understand the plight of those fleeing the Middle East. But they also want basic assurances for the safety of this country”, said Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican. “We always have been and we always will be”, said Speak Ryan.

“I can not think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric that’s been coming out of here during the course of this debate”, Obama said at a news conference this morning in the Philippines, using an acronym for the extremist group blamed for the terrorist attack in Paris on Friday.

Most of the official statements by Texas Republicans have focused on stopping Syrians from entering the country until the government can guarantee that none of the refugees will harm USA citizens. Gov. Abbott was not on the call, which was led by White House chief of staff Denis McDonough.