“In my opinion, the refugee vetting process is structured in such a way that excludes states from any oversight and severely limits the amount of information states may have regarding refugees”.
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The White House chief of staff, Denis McDonough, wrote to Ohio’s John Kasich and the nation’s other governors today seeking to assure them that security vetting is extraordinarily tough for refugees coming into the United States.
The United States’ decision to accept Syrian refugees fleeing their country’s civil war became a major issue after the Paris attacks. After telling President Barack Obama that they won’t accept them migrating to their state, officials are now warning private charitable organizations that if they take refugees in, they may be sued.
Traylor, in charge of refugee programmes in Texas, said in the letter that the state “has been unable to achieve cooperation” with the IRC in “relocating some Syrian refugees in the near future”, EFE news reported.
Congress returns to Washington this week facing a potential showdown over Syrian refugees resettling in the US, a battle that could lead to a partial shutdown of the government.
“Given the tragic attacks in Paris”, he explained in a letter to Obama, “and the threats we have already seen, Texas cannot participate in any program that will result in Syrian refugees – any one of whom could be connected to terrorism – being resettled in Texas”.
It would halt Obama’s plan to allow 10,000 Syrian refugee and migrants into the country until authorities verify that the individuals don’t pose a security threat to the U.S.
These developments come as the Senate prepares to vote perhaps later this week on a House-passed bill that would make it harder for Syrian refugees to enter the U.S. Forty-seven House Democrats supported the bill, including New York Reps.
This weekend, the state threatened to take legal action and terminate the contract of the Dallas office of the International Rescue Committee, which resettles refugees on behalf of the US government.
They have also argued that the governors, mostly Republicans, are targeting those who are overwhelmingly victims rather than perpetrators of violence in Syria.
Almost a third of Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have signed a letter calling on party leaders to ensure that a spending bill block federal funding to resettle refugees from Syria and nearby countries.
Almost 20 organizations in Texas work with state health officials to provide services to refugees. “That means a lot of new talent, skills, and cultural perspective”, she said. “However, I am more concerned about those mass murderers and domestic terrorists who are born in our United States”. “I understand some people’s concerns about the “other” in our mindsets”, Houston said, while reading from a prepared statement. “Therefore, Governor Pence’s stance on the refugee resettlement program has not changed”. “States may not categorically deny ORR-funded benefits and services to Syrian refugees”, wrote Robert Carey, the office’s director.
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McDonough held a conference call with numerous governors on November 17, reassuring them the federal screening process for refugees is thorough and comprehensive. The report would include information on refugees resettled during the prior month and fiscal year-to-date.
