The Office of Refugee Resettlement said in a letter to state resettlement officials that states may not deny benefits and services to refugees based on a refugee’s country of origin or religious affiliation.
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Faced with a growing number of governors announcing they oppose the admittance of refugees from Syria and Iraq into the country, the Obama Administration has issued a formal letter to state officials warning them that there is no legal basis to discriminate against refugees based on religion or national origin.
More than half of the nation’s governors have pledged not to allow Syrian refugees into their states following the wave of terror attacks that hit Paris earlier in the month, which left 130 dead and hundreds more injured. Obama has outlined a goal of bringing 10,000 more Syrian refugees to the US during the current budget year.
The notification came in a letter dated Wednesday from the director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (OPR) to state resettlement agencies.
“Thus, it is not permissible to deny federally funded benefits such as Medicaid or TANF to refugees who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements”. States that do not comply with these terms are subject to “enforcement action, including suspension or termination”.
The commission will continue to follow the directive of Republican Governor Greg Abbott, who has called for Texas to turn away Syrian refugees, said Bryan Black, a spokesman for the Texas commission. They want temporary delays while seeking more information about security checks or they are fighting outright any refugee resettlement in their states.
“We firmly believe that it is possible to maintain security at home while also welcoming refugees”, the bishops said. The horrors of modern terrorism are frightening, but they demand from us a strong renewal of our faith and our commitment to Christian teachings and the common good. In Romans 12:13, we are told that Christians should ‘extend hospitality to strangers.
CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports they say that the governor didn’t have the authority to block refugees and that even if he did, it would run counter to everything the city stands for.
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The ORR letter said refugees are subject to a rigorous screening process before they enter the country.
