It’s the federal government’s role to process applications for refugee status, and up to the federal government to decide who is let into the country.
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It also has used the events to invite US state governors to meet with Syrian refugees who already have settled in their states.
President Barack Obama urged Americans to show generosity to Syrian refugees in his Thanksgiving message on Thursday, reminding them that the Pilgrims who came to America in 1620 were themselves fleeing persecution.
Meriden said calls to stop Syrian refugee resettlement reflect a misunderstanding of the Syrian conflict by Americans.
The ORR letter said refugees are subject to a rigorous screening process before they enter the country.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that would halt the immigration of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the United States. Donald Trump vowed to deport over 2,000 Syrian refugees if elected, and suggested a system that would force U.S. Muslims to register in a security database.
Following the deadly attacks in Paris and the revelation that one of the terrorists may have entered Europe as part of the wave of Syrians fleeing their war-torn homeland, a debate has flared in the United States about the advisability of taking in refugees from that Middle Eastern country.
Obama stressed that Syrian refugees would undergo the highest security checks of anyone traveling to the United States.
In a letter to Mr Obama, he said: “American humanitarian compassion could be exploited to expose Americans to similar deadly danger”.
In a related news, President Obama on Wednesday said that the states have no legal authority to refuse refugee admittance, and warned that they could be subjected to enforcement action should they fail to comply.
He called for Americans to display their full “generosity” in welcoming refugees into the country with no reservations.
Susan Walsh/AP President Obama said Americans have flooded him with letters and emails to say they’ll welcome Syrian refugees into their homes.
The White House counters that the vetting process is thorough and can take up to two years. Why not prioritize the most vulnerable refugees, such as the children, elderly, families and those who are being slaughtered due to their faith and gender?
As of Tuesday, at least 31 governors, some representing states that have previously accepted Syrian refugees, had announced plans to halt resettlement until more stringent security measures can be adopted.
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Additionally, the letter says refugees are protected by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which “prohibits discrimination on the bases of race and national origin” in all programs that receive federal financial assistance.
