While Texas Governor Greg Abbott has tried to halt further refugee resettlement in his state, alleging lack of cooperation and information sharing on the part of the federal government, the mayors of all major Texas cities have expressed support for refugee resettlement in their communities.
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In rejecting the state’s request, Godbey wrote the state had not proved that the arrival of the refugees was a “substantial threat of irreparable injury” nor that these nine refugees would commit “acts of terrorism” in Texas.
“There’s a two year long getting process for any Syrian or middle eastern refugees that are coming into the county so the numbers are small”, Jillson said.
Ted Cruz, R-Texas, left, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, right, speak about the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the US, during their joint news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015.
“Refugees are the most security-vetted people who come to this country”, she said.
Texas has attempted – twice – to block the refugees from entering the state, and has been rebuffed both times.
Since fiscal 2011, 243 Syrian refugees have resettled in Texas, the USA filing said, making it one of the main US relocation sites since the Syrian civil war erupted about four years ago.
Godbey’s rejection of the state’s request comes less than a week after Texas withdrew its first request for a temporary restraining order to block the arrival of two Syrian families – 12 individuals including 6 children – that arrived in Houston and Dallas on Monday. The Republican abruptly dropped a similar request last week after the Obama administration and ACLU responded in court that states don’t have the authority to block refugees.
But Rippenkroeger said “due to safety and privacy concerns our organization can’t disclose resettlement details of Syrians or any refugees that have arrived in Houston”.
This week’s ruling will not be the last word on Syrian refugees resettling in Texas, according to Fox News.
Catholic Charities moved forward with its plans to settle Syrian refugees in the state on Monday, despite calls from Gov. Mike Pence (R) to keep refugees from Syria out of the state, the Indianapolis Star reported.
“We can reassure all Texans that the refugees are receiving a warm and compassionate welcome from staff and volunteers”, said Aaron Rippenkroeger, president and CEO of the company. He says the policy banning state agencies from helping Syrian refugees resettle will continue. “The State of IN will continue to suspend its participation IN the resettlement of Syrian refugees IN IN until the federal government takes action to address the concerns raised about this program”.
Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin said he had met with Pence and explained to him the plight of the family and the role of the archdiocese’s Refugee and Immigrant Services program.
Texas has taken in more refugees than any other state in the last five years, including about 250 Syrian refugees, second only to California.
Despite the ruling, Texas’ lawsuit over refugee resettlements is not over.
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Many Turks were wary of hiring Syrians or renting apartments to them even before the Paris attacks, and the refugees are even more vulnerable and in need of aid now, he said.
