Federal judge dismisses Texas’ lawsuit over Syrian refugees

AUSTIN – A federal court dumped Texas’ attempt to block Syrian refugees from resettling here by dismissing a case accusing the federal government and the International Rescue Committee, Inc., of operating without consultation with state officials.

Texas soon expanded its lawsuit against the federal government, claiming that it violated the 1980 Refugee Act that requires a government coordinator to “consult regularly with states” regarding the sponsorship and intended distribution of refugees.

On Wednesday, in a filing added to the court’s docket on Thursday, Godbey dismissed the case against the Obama administration and a nonprofit organization that works on resettling refugees. Godbey in February pointed to the heavily politicized debate over the process when he blocked Texas’ request for a temporary restraining order against any refugee. The state had claimed that the federal government and International Rescue Committee overstepped their authority when they agreed to settle 15,000 Syrian immigrants in Texas and across the country last November.

Since fiscal year 2011, 243 Syrian refugees have been resettled in Texas, a USA court filing in December showed, making the state one of the main US relocation sites since the Syrian civil war erupted five years ago. And Syrian refugees have continued to arrive in Texas, which has always been among the leaders in the U.S.in accepting refugees of all nationalities. He said his office was considering options to, “guarantee the safety of Texans from domestic and foreign threats”. Twenty-nine other states have sought to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in their jurisdiction.

“Today’s decision upholds and affirms America’s proud history in providing refuge for the world’s most vulnerable”. Texas officials argued that they should have a say regarding where refugees are resettled. “It sends the clear message to other states that such attempts are not only un-American, they are contrary to the law and will fail in court”, said Cecillia Wang an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Obama administration has pledged to take in 10,000 people fleeing the conflict in Syria. But they all soon learned they did not have the authority to keep refugees out of their states because the federal government sets immigration policy and refugees can move freely once they arrive. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had ordered nonprofit groups to suspend the resettlement of refugees from Syria.

Despite this confusion over the the settlement process and the ensuing litigation, the IRC’s Sime still found a way to be graceful toward Texas.