Here Is the Growing List of States That Have Vowed Not to Take Syrian Refugees

Andrew HusbandNov 16th, 2015, 4:46 pm
 

Screen Shot 2015-11-16 at 3.53.12 PMOver the weekend, the Paris attacks inspired the governors of Alabama and Michigan issued statements denying entry to any of the 10,000 Syrian refugees the White House announced it would take in last September. This set off a chain reaction of additional refusals from mostly Republican governors (and one Democrat) across the country. Not only are they refusing to endanger the lives of their respective states’ citizens, but many are expressing strong criticisms of President Barack Obama‘s current policies towards the Syrian refugee crisis.

Michigan

Gov. Rick Snyder (R) because the first gubernatorial official to publicly announce that his state would not be accepting Syrian refugees via the federal program established by the White House.

“Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration,” he said in a statement. “But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”

Alabama

Gov. Robert Bentley (R) of Alabama followed suit with an official statement outlining the state’s refusal to accept refugees.

“The acts of terror committed over the weekend are a tragic reminder to the world that evil exists and takes the form of terrorists who seek to destroy the basic freedoms we will always fight to preserve,” he said in a statement. “I will not place Alabamians at even the slightest, possible risk of an attack on our people.”

Texas

As news of Snyder and Bentley’s new policies spread on Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) threw his hat into the ring of noncompliance.

In an official statement, Abbott cited an unconfirmed report about a Syrian passport being found near the body of one of the dead attackers.

Arkansas

Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) chimed in around the same time with Arkansas’s intention to refuse any Syrian refugees looking for a new home. Like those before him, the governor released an official statement to explain his position.

“My thoughts and prayers are with them,” he said, “but I will not support a policy that is not the best solution and that poses a risk to Arkansans.”

Louisiana

Initially, Louisiana Gov. (and Republican presidential candidate) Bobby Jindal publicly expressed his concerns with the incoming Syrian refugees with a letter address to Obama. Jindal tweeted the letter out earlier in the weekend.

But when his fellow Republican governors began dropping out of the running for accepting refugees, Jindal went from criticism to action.

Indiana

Gov. Mike Pence (R) of Indiana announced his plan to suspend the state’s resettlement plans for additional Syrian refugees.

He went on to explain that the state was in fact a welcoming place, but his first priority as governor was to the state’s residents. Syrian refugees, despite their plight, came second.

Massachusetts

In a bit of a surprise, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) of the blue state of Massachusetts announced his administration’s intent not to accept any Syrian refugees without further information from the federal government.

“I think at this point in time we would have to be very cautious about accepting folks without knowing a lot more about what the federal government’s plan looks like,’’ he told the Associated Press. ‘‘I would certainly say no until I know a lot more than I know now.”

He insisted that his comments weren’t final, but that without certain guarantees from the White House, he had to put Massachusetts first.

North Carolina

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) added yet another tweet to the litany of tweets from official accounts refusing to accept Syrian refugees.

That being said, he also held a press conference where he explained his reasoning for his decision, saying: “I am now requesting that the president and the federal government cease sending refugees from Syria to North Carolina.”

His primary concerns stemmed from the same Syrian passport cited by Gov. Abbott of Texas.

Arizona

Gov. Doug Ducey (R) issued a statement on his decision to close Arizona’s borders to additional Syrian refugees.

“I am calling for an immediate halt in the placement of any new refugees in Arizona,” he said in the statement. “These acts serve as a reminder that the world remains at war with radical Islamic terrorists. Our national leaders must react with the urgency and leadership that every American expects to protect our citizens.”

Florida

On the east coast, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) addressed a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about the matter.

“Our state agency will not support the requests we have received” regarding the incoming Syrian refugees, wrote Scott.

Illinois

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) said in a statement that his state will join fellow Midwesterner Michigan in no longer accepting any more Syrian refugees.

“Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict, but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America,” he said. “We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens.”

Mississippi

According to the Sun Herald, Gov. Phil Bryant (R) said that he was “currently working with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and Mississippi Office of Homeland Security to determine the current status of any Syrian refugees that may be brought to our state in the near future.”

In addition, Bryant stressed that he would “do everything humanly possible to stop any plans from the Obama administration to put Syrian refugees in Mississippi” since “the policy of bringing these individuals into the country is not only misguided, it is extremely dangerous.”

Ohio

Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich appeared on the Fox Business Network to discuss the Paris attacks, the threat of ISIS and whether or not any more Syrian refugees should be allowed into the country.

WCMH-TV in Columbus reported that Kasich was “writing President Obama to ask him to stop resettling refugees in Ohio.”

Wisconsin

Though no longer a presidential candidate, Scott Walker (R) still serves as the governor of Wisconsin. As such, he used his position to emphasize the need to recognize ISIS as a real threat to national security.

In addition, he issued a statement saying that Wisconsin would not longer accept any new refugees and calling upon President Obama to rethink his administration’s current plans.

Iowa

Interestingly, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) hasn’t outright said that the state will no longer accept Syrian refugees. However, he did urge caution.

“I share the concern of the other governors about the safety and well-being of our citizens, after what we saw happen in Paris,” he said in a statement. “We don’t want to become like Europe, where they let all these refugees in, and now they’re faced with sending their police out to try to find out and round up the dangerous embedded ISIS militants that are part of it.”

New Hampshire

Gov. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire is the only Democrat on this list so far. However, party affiliation doesn’t always dictate politics. Hence Hassan’s recent statement on whether or not she would accept any Syrian refugees into her New England state.

“Protecting the safety and security of our people is the first responsibility of government,” said spokesperson William Hinkle. “And the Governor has always made clear that we must ensure robust refugee screening to protect American citizens, and believes that we must know more of the facts about those who carried out the Paris terrorist attacks and have strong assurances of safety from our intelligence officials before we admit refugees from Syria into the United States.”

Kansas

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) announced late Monday afternoon that his state, too, will not “participate in or assist in any way the relocation of Syrian refugees in Kansas” as ISIS continues to threaten to “infiltrate the refugee process.”

“We must take immediate action to ensure terrorists do not enter the nation or our state under the guise of refugee resettlement,” Brownback said in a statement, citing safety concerns. “The recent attacks in Paris coupled with terrorist organizations indicating a desire to attack the United States are stark reminders of the dangers every nation faces.”

Georgia

In the south, Gov. Nathan Deal (R), a former Democrat, issued an executive order telling agencies not to allow Syrian refugees into the state.


“Further,” he said in a statement, “I call upon the Obama administration to work with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security to confirm the backgrounds of the 59 Syrian refugees recently resettled to ensure they do not pose a security threat to our citizens.”

Idaho

“While I understand that immigration and refugee resettlement are authorized under federal law,” said Gov. Butch Otter (R) in a statement, “I am duty-bound to do whatever I can to protect the people of Idaho from harm.”

Maine

In the far northern reaches of New England, Gov. Paul LePage (R) cited the fake Syrian passport found on one of the Paris attackers as ample evidence to refuse any refugees admittance into the state.

Interestingly, LePage’s administration inadvertently confused several Maine residents when the state’s flags were flown at half-staff.

Nebraska

Gov. Pete Ricketts (R) chimed in with the Republican governors (and one Democrat) before him when he told Nebraska’s state agencies not to participate in the federal resettlement program.

He then had to do damage control, as vandals had defaced an Islamic center with pro-Paris graffiti in Omaha.

Nevada

Out west, Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) of Nevada joined the chorus of anti-Syrian refugees by closing his state’s doors to resettlement.

“It is in the interest of all Nevadans and the millions who travel to our state annually to insist on extensive evaluations of any potential risk individuals may pose to Nevada or our national security,” he said in a statement. “We must balance our nation’s role as an international leader with the safety and security of our citizens and visitors.”

New Jersey

Following Friday night’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Gov. Chris Christie briefly dropped the Republican presidential candidate mic to issue statements regarding his home state.

With that, Christie said that no Syrian refugees would be allowed in New Jersey, a talking point he subsequently used in his ongoing campaign. “The fact is that we need for appropriate vetting, and I don’t think that orphans under 5 should be admitted to the United States at this point,” he said. “We need to put the safety and security of the American people first.”

New Mexico

Back in the southwest, Gov. Susana Martinez (R) made a brief comment on Monday about whether or not New Mexico would participate in President Obama’s refugee program.

The verdict? A resounding “no,” as Martinez said she was “opposed to the Obama administration’s plan to accept any more Syrian refugees until there’s a clear plan in place to properly vet and place them.”

Oklahoma

Gov. Mary Fallin (R) issued a statement echoing her fellow governors’ general call for President Obama to halt his federal resettlement program for Syrian refugees.

“The Obama administration needs to assure the public that the background checks they are doing are rigorous, and that American lives will not be endangered in the process,” she said. “Until then, I call on the Obama administration to suspend any Syrian refugees into the United States. During these uncertain times, the Obama administration needs to make sure those entering the United States are not terrorists.”

South Carolina

Following in neighbor North Carolina’s footsteps, Gov. Nikki Haley (R) asked the White House to exclude South Carolina from the list of possible states for Syrian refugee settlement.

“This lack of historical and verifiable intelligence with many Syrian refugees makes it difficult, if not impossible, to thoroughly vet individuals seeking to enter the United States as a refugee,” she said in a statement.

Earlier on Monday, Haley had initially said “there was no need to stop the World Relief Organization or Lutherans from bringing refugees to the state.” After reviewing her fellow governors’ statements and publicly available intelligence, however, she changed her tune.

Tennessee

Gov. Bill Haslam (R) issued a statement condemning the Paris attacks and opting out of admitting any Syrian refugees into Tennessee.


“We as a state must do everything we can to provide Tennesseans the safe environment to live, work and raise a family that so many across the world seek,” Haslam said in the statement.

We will add to the growing list of states who refuse to accept any (more) Syrian refugees as those official announcements are made.

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