Welcome to Texas! Lone Star State Drops Request to Halt Syrian Refugees

He accused the IRC of violating federal law by not cooperating with the state after Abbott last month ordered resettlement groups in Texas to stop accepting Syrians.

In its response Friday, the federal government said the state’s argument is “without merit” because it has met those obligations under the Refugee Act of 1980.

Three families of Syrian refugees have arrived in New York City on their way to Texas, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday.

“The FBI as well as other federal officials have made it clear – they have no ability to ensure the safety and security of the refugees they are admitting into the United States”, Abbott has said.

Texas is backtracking on its attempt to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in the state after filing a lawsuit against the USA federal government earlier this week over fears that refugees could pose a security risk, CBS Dallas Fort Worth (CBSDFW) News reports.

President Barack Obama said states do not have the authority to block refugees.

Court documents also indicate that 21 Syrian refugees were expected to arrive next week, including six children to join relatives already living in Texas, a family of eight and a 26-year-old woman whose mother lives in the Houston area.

The federal government is now asking the courts to deny the restraining order, arguing that Texas is demanding “an unwarranted veto power” over federal decisions about refugee resettlement. Texas on Wednesday became the first to take the federal government to court but legal experts called it futile, saying states have no authority over resettlements.

– November 25: The Texas health agency again writes IRC, claiming it has “been unable to achieve cooperation with your agency” because “your agency insists on resettling certain refugees from Syria in the near future”. Cecilia Wang, who works with the ACLU and refugee-resettlement groups in Texas, told ABC News that she was hopeful that this may be the end of the legal proceedings.

“The United States has a long-standing tradition of welcoming refugees, and this Administration is committed to preserving that tradition, consistent with the values that have endured through generations”, he said in the statement.

The Obama administration’s plans to resettle Syrian refugees fleeing that country’s civil war have sparked controversy following the Paris terror attacks. The federal government insists refugee vetting is thorough and can take up to two years.

“Plaintiff does not explain how these specific refugees – mostly children, their parents, and in one case their grandparents – pose a danger to anyone anywhere, let alone to the State of Texas”. A second family of six, including four children, is scheduled to be resettlement on Monday in Houston, the suit said.