Obama makes holiday appeal for acceptance of Syrian refugees

He then transitioned to defend his plan of bringing Syrian refugees to America, attempting to temper security concerns, and appealing to generosity and the Thanksgiving holiday to make a case for his proposals.

Almost 4 centuries after a gaggle of English settlers in search of spiritual freedom arrived in the New World on the Mayflower in 1620, “the world continues to be filled with pilgrims, women and men who need nothing greater than the prospect for a safer, higher future for themselves and their households”, Obama stated. “Nearly 400 years later we remember their story”. However, he said that what happened in Paris have not detracted many Americans to accept refugees if they are allowed to.

But a letter from the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement claims that Abbott doesn’t have the power to make that call, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Obama, however, has vowed to veto the bill.

Forty-seven Democrats joined with 242 Republicans to pass the legislation, while just two GOP lawmakers voted against the bill. President Obama has said the US will remain a welcoming place for refugees from around the world. He praised Americans who have already opened their homes to refugees fleeing war-torn Syria.

Obama used part of his address to reassure skeptics that his refugee resettlement program is extremely thorough.

The US president’s administration told state resettlement officials states can not deny benefits and services to refugees based on their country of origin or religious affiliation.

In his Thanksgiving Day message, President Barack Obama said Thanksgiving, is a day to count our blessings because we all have something to be grateful for.

Henshaw describes the process as one that can take up to twenty-four months to complete, and said hundreds of thousands of refugees have come to the United States through it since the September 11th Attacks.

“All refugees resettled in the United States undergo rigorous security screenings by the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Department of Defense and multiple intelligence agencies, including biometric checks, forensic testing, medical screenings and in-person interviews”. Furthermore, many Republicans cast serious doubt on whether refugees can be properly vetted to ensure that they are not terrorists.

Some of the same Republican elected officials who criticized Obama’s actions on immigration past year have lambasted his plans to take in more refugees this fall.

Watch the president’s Thanksgiving address below.

The governors who want to shut the door to Syrian refugees don’t have the authority to keep them out.