White House to give states more information on refugees but maintains

Texas is threatening legal action against a resettlement agency over its plans to defy Republican Gov. Greg Abbott by continuing to accept Syrian refugees, according to the Associated Press.

“Failure by your organization to cooperate with the state of Texas as required by federal law may result in the termination of your contract with the state and other legal action”, Traylor stated in a letter to 19 refugee agencies.

Chris Traylor, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, issued the threat in a November 25 letter to the International Rescue Committee in Dallas.

The information would only be provided after the refugees are resettled in a state, however, and would not include specific identifying information about them, underscoring not only President Barack Obama’s insistence that the refugee resettlement program continue at full speed despite efforts to slow it down but also the scant role governors have in determining where refugees live in the U.S.

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said in letters to Cuomo and other governors that the administration will provide them with “a tailored report” each month on refugees resettled in their states, if they request it. “It is a weird thing when the state is telling you to violate federal law, or be punished by losing your contract”.

“We must be able to verify that any individual seeking any immigration status does not pose a threat to this nation”, says to the memo.

But Andrews added that “we are pleased to see the federal government finally beginning to understand that states like OH want more regular information about refugees being resettled in our state”.

According to the Refugee Processing Center, 218 Syrian refugees have been admitted in California.

IRC officials called Syrian refugees “the most vetted group of people to come to the United States”, subjected to “rigorous security screenings” by “multiple intelligence agencies” for up to two years.

In his letter to the governors, McDonough also said federal officials are prepared to brief governors on the refugee screening process the next time he meets with them.

Texas is not backing down from its pledge to try to block Syrian refugees from its borders.

Christie has told Obama in a letter that his state would not accept any more refugees from Syria in the wake of the Paris attacks by the Islamic State, or ISIS, that killed 130 people.

“Apparently, they are scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America”, the president said.

“States may not deny (Office of Refugee Resettlement)-funded benefits and services to refugees based on a refugee’s country of origin or religious affiliation”.

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”. Still, the proposal has generated quite a bit of publicity for both Zimmerman and the council members opposed to it. For instance, Mayor Steve Adler joined a White House-organized conference call to tout his support for Syrian refugees.