Rescue Group Says It Won’t Comply With Governor’s Directive on Syrian Refugees

Fewer than one percent of people given refugee status are then referred by the U.N.to the United States for resettlement. The International Rescue Committee – one of about 20 nonprofits that have a state contract to resettle refugees in Texas – had previously informed the state that it would resettle two families in the Dallas area in early December.

Faez, a Syrian refugee who speaks some English, told the Star-Telegram that relatives now in Jordan are scheduled to arrive in Texas this week. Texas has accepted roughly 200 of them, and IRC has been involved with resettling two families – both couples with young children.

Other states that have received Syrian refugees since March 2011 include: Arizona (182), IL (170), Pennsylvania (161), Florida (142), Kentucky (101), New Jersey (99), OH (89), MA (72), Georgia (69), North Carolina (56), NY (55), CT (51), Maryland (43), Tennessee (42), IN (39), Washington (38), Idaho (37), Missouri (29), Virginia (26), Colorado (18), Louisiana (14), Utah (12), Kansas (8), Nevada (8), Minnesota (7), New Mexico (6), OR (6), New Hampshire (3), Oklahoma (3), Wisconsin (2), Arkansas (1), ME (1), and West Virginia (1).

The new system comes as 31 governors have sought to block President Obama from placing Syrian refugees in their states following the Paris attacks linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Gov. Greg Abbott was among more than 30 Republican governors who declared they would not accept Syrian refugees due to security concerns following the Paris attacks. States that defy the law could face suspension or termination of their refugee resettlement programs, according to a letter signed by Robert Carey, director of the office.

Pence and Christie have vowed to close their states completely to Syrian refugees if they can’t get the information they want – setting up a legal showdown over who has ultimate authority over the refugee program, the states or the White House. Under the Refugee Health Program, the state contracts with city and county health departments to provide refugees with initial health screening, vaccinations and referrals for medical treatment.

“No director of any agency is willing to take that political risk involved in affirming to the country that no incident with a refugee will occur, even though refugees have a low rate of committing crimes”, said McCaw, an American Muslim.

In the past four years, only 1,500 Syrian refugees have been accepted into the United States, but the Obama administration announced in September that 10,000 Syrians would be permitted entry next year.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission was unable to provide a list of resettlement nonprofits that have agreed not to assist Syrian refugees.

The Office of Refugee Resettlement has also said in a letter to state resettlement officials that states may not deny benefits and services to refugees based their country of origin or religious orientation.

More than half of the nation’s governors say they will not accept Syrian refugees in their states, but they may have little choice. “Massachusetts has a role in welcoming refugees into the commonwealth”, he said through a spokeswoman. “The organization plans to “seek guidance on the ramifications” of federal and state requirements”, he said in a statement.