Texas Official Tells Non-Profit: Stop Helping Syrians Move to the State

Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor told the agencies that Texas has taken its fair share of refugees over the years, and wrote that the commission reserves the “right to refuse to cooperate with any resettlement on any grounds and, until further notice, will refuse to cooperate with the resettlement of any Syrian refugees in Texas”.

The Texas state in the USA will sue agencies that fail to follow an order issued by Governor Greg Abbott to not accept more Syrian refugees, the media reported on Tuesday.

Abbott and 30 other governors – all Republican except for one – have called for a halt to resettling Syrian refugees in their state in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks, citing fears militants could use the asylum process to infiltrate the US.

Since the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris that claimed the lives of 130 people and injured over 300, concern has been raised in the USA about accepting Syrian refugees into the country.

Earnest said refugees are the “most rigorously screened class of travelers” and added that the administration, in consultation with governors from both parties, agreed to provide more frequent updates on refugees who are resettled in their states, as well as increased information on security precautions.

“They have family ties in the area and are coming to rejoin family members who are already here”, she said.

But the federal government has a reputation for bypassing the states by working directly with private organizations.

“Of the over 4 million refugees now living in limbo on Syria’s border, the USA government has committed to resettling a modest 10,000”, the IRC said.

The letter said the White House will also work to brief governors on the refugee resettlement process and discuss improving the program.

The office spends almost $1.5 billion annually to resettle about 75,000 refugees in the United States.

Carey wrote that “all refugees are subject to the highest level of security checks of any category of traveler to the United States, a multi-layered and intensive screening and vetting process involving multiple law enforcement, national security and intelligence agencies across the federal government”. “Even in those cases where refugees were arrested on terrorism-related charges, years and even decades often transpired between their entry into the United States and their involvement in terrorism”.

The letter, dated November 25, was sent out last week to refugee resettlement programs in 49 states and the District.

Kelly Ayotte, was the first Democratic governor to support suspending the refugees program until there are assurances that those seeking to enter the United States are properly vetted.

A Dallas relief agency is defying Texas officials’ threats of legal action and vowing to continue to resettle Syrian refugees.

Oregon has three such organizations: Catholic Charities of Oregon, Lutheran Community Services and Sponsors Organized to Assist Refugees.

The International Rescue Committee, a nonprofit that’s based in NY and runs a program in Dallas, gave no indication that it will change course and relocate Syrian refugees somewhere other than Texas.

Almost 20 organizations in Texas work with state health officials to provide services to refugees.

Applauding refugees in San Antonio, City Councilman Ron Nirenberg said, “I’ve gotten to experience the sense of optimism and hope that is strong in San Antonio’s refugee population”.