Six U.S. states shut doors to Syrian refugees after Paris attack

[MowCowWhoHow III]

Source: Reuters

Texas, Arkansas, Indiana and Louisiana on Monday joined two other U.S. states in saying they will no longer accept Syrian refugees, contending it is too dangerous to let in people from that war-torn country following Friday's deadly Paris attack.

Republican Governors Greg Abbott of Texas, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Mike Pence of Indiana and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, followed the lead of Alabama and Michigan in saying their states would no longer help support the Obama administration's goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees in the coming years.

"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," Abbott said in an open letter to U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday. "Neither you nor any federal official can guarantee that Syrian refugees will not be part of any terroristic activity."

But it was unclear what authority governors had to stop admitting refugees into their states, legal experts said.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/16/us-france-shooting-usa-migrants-idUSKCN0T521D20151116?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter

[uppityperson]

1. They have enough home grown terrorists and don't want to help those trying to get away from DAESH?

[LiberalArkie]

2. The Syrian refugees might fight for the U.S. instead of against it. That is what they are afraid of.

[misterhighwasted]

4. k & r Pretty much, I'm sure weapon stockpiling is up 100% today

Bunker builders too.

[patsimp]

43. Home grown terrorists should be treated harshly

because they exist, should we allow other potential terrorists to sneak in?

[tazkcmo]

51. Which terrorists do you refer to?

But yeah, screw those kids! Be afraid! So much for the home of the brave. So much chest puffing but when push comes to shove a bunch of cowardice. What happened to walking the walking, oh America, home of the brave Chicken Hawk?

[patsimp]

52. why is it that people have to die so that we can say we are brave

in fact, let's let violent criminals roam free to show them love.

shouldn't we be concerned about the killer cops who are killing innocent black kids more than the Timothy mcvieghs and the cowards who blew up the Boston marathon?

[Blue_Adept]

3. MA just did the same

Sinec we have that idiot Baker as our Republican governor.

[smirkymonkey]

10. I just saw that on Boston.com. However Mayor Marty Walsh backs him up on that, which

kind of surprised me.

[Blue_Adept]

12. Yeah, saw that afterwards. That likely won't hurt him much, though it should.

[City Lights]

5. WGN just announced that IL just did the same. nt

[murielm99]

23. That fool Rauner can't pick up a pen

and sign a budget, but he can block refugees. Who would help them financially anyway? We are not paying our bills in Illinois. Even lottery payouts have stopped in this state.

[3catwoman3]

32. Norman Goldman calls him...

...Governor Ruiner.

[murielm99]

33. My brother does that, too.

He was calling him that before the votes were even counted. It is a natural, isn't it?

We need to get him in a cell soon, preferably before his term ends. Put him in the governor's wing.

[3catwoman3]

38. The Governor's wing!

[City Lights]

40. I cannot stand him!

And I am so angry that the people of IL elected him. Ugh!

[Blue_Tires]

6. Grandstanding and whoring for the cameras as always

Brain dead nutbar governors don't get to make that choice, and they damn well know it...

[erronis]

7. Most US politicians couldn't find Syria on a map - they definitely don't know squat about the ME

How many times have we had people from India or South America or Africa or Mexico being accosted because they are "Ayrab"?

I bet you could take most of the republican congressman (federal) and ask them to point out on a map where the US is. Probably 90%, altho they'll throw Canada into their bailiwick. Mexico, 90% - the rest of South America - 50%. Europe countries, 60%. Mid East, Africa, Asia - 40%.

Yet these aholes will stand up and issue xian fatwahs against other countries and peoples and they have no f'in idea where these places are, who lives there, the problems, the joys.

I don't have anything against the South or the SouthWest (...) but imagine if some despot from another country decided it was OK to terrorize, bomb, poison, mine the countryside in these parts of the USofA without know how they struggle with inbreeding, intolerance, indigence, and in-stupidity. (OK, we have lots of stoopids in Wisconsin, etc.

[pampango]

8. Republican governors working hard to create, then respond to, fear. It's a full-time job. n/t

[47of74]

9. Jesus does not approve

And it says right in the bible too...

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matt 25:41-46)

Of course that verse has been redacted out of the GOP bibles.

[Comrade Grumpy]

11. Will they bar French citizens, too? I think most of the attackers were French.

[elmac]

13. Overreaction is what Daesh wants

they feed on hate and hate will only grow their numbers.

[SpankMe]

16. It's an excellent question.

My personal hypothesis is that those who are fleeing the war-torn countries are more religiously and politically moderate, and places like Saudi Arabia don't want to dilute their little fundie society with what would qualify, no doubt, as Islamic "liberals".

That's why that one Saudi prince was offering to help Germany build 300 mosques instead of taking refugees into Saudi Arabia.

[840high]

28. Giving money is not the same

as taking in some of the migrants.

[whatthehey]

18. Turkey has absorbed more than anyone IIRC.

[Comrade Grumpy]

19. Neighboring countries have taken in millions of Syrian refugees. The Gulf states, not so much.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/09/syrias-refugee-crisis-in-numbers/

Refugees in the region

More than 4 million refugees from Syria (95%) are in just five countries Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt:

Lebanon hosts approximately 1.2 million refugees from Syria which amounts to around one in five people in the country

Jordan hosts about 650,000 refugees from Syria, which amounts to about 10% of the population

Turkey hosts 1.9 million refugees from Syria, more than any other country worldwide

Iraq where 3 million people have been internally displaced in the last 18 months hosts 249,463 refugees from Syria

Egypt hosts 132,375 refugees from Syria

The UN humanitarian appeal for Syrian refugees is just 40% funded.

Funding shortages mean that the most vulnerable Syrian refugees in Lebanon receive just $13.50 per month or less than half a dollar a day for food assistance.

More than 80% of Syrian refugees in Jordan living below the local poverty line.

Conflict in Syria

Around 220,000 people have been killed and 12.8 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria

More than 50% of Syria’s population is currently displaced

International Resettlement

In total, 104,410 resettlement places have been offered globally since the start of the Syria crisis, which equates to a mere 2.6% of the total population of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Turkey.

400,000 people in the five main host countries - or 10% - are in need of resettlement according to the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR.

Amnesty International is calling for at least 10% of Syria’s most vulnerable refugees to be resettled from the main host countries by the end of 2016

Key facts:

Gulf countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain have offered zero resettlement places to Syrian refugees.

Other high income countries including Russia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea have also offered zero resettlement places.

Germany has pledged 35,000 places for Syrian refugees through its humanitarian admission programme and individual sponsorship; about 75 % of the EU total.

Germany and Sweden together have received 47% Syrian asylum applications in the EU between April 2011 and July 2015

Excluding Germany and Sweden, the remaining 26 EU countries have pledged around 8,700 resettlement places, or around 0.2% of Syrian refugees in the main host countries.

[Herman4747]

47. Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain

all refuse refugees. I guess the thinking is that the refugees may be Alawite (Shia), and thus undesirable.

[SpankMe]

15. What these geniuses don't understand...

...it that even if they were successful in banning refugees from their states, all terrorists would have to do is get admitted to other states and then drive to these genius's states in cars and commit acts of terror.

I hope the US has good enough screening to filter out any refugees with questionable intentions. It may not matter much, anyway, as terrorists are radicalized here at home from among our own citizens - possibly, even, from these states who wish to block refugees.

[whatthehey]

21. Just checked. The top accepting countries are ALL Muslim

...but that doesn't fit the soundbite narrative...

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/09/world/welcome-syrian-refugees-countries

[Comrade Grumpy]

29. The Gulf states are too busy egging on the civil war to accept refugees.

They are bad actors in this.

I agree with the president that we have a moral responsibility to accept some of these unfortunate people.

[pampango]

31. True. "Muslim countries" have accepted millions of refugees. The Gulf states - zero. n/t

[Mojorabbit]

44. yes

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kyleblaine/some-things-to-know-about-how-us-screens-syrian-refugees#.jvLR21WPKv
To gain admittance into the United States, a Syrian must clear all these steps:
Multiple high-level security checks
Biometric screening
A mandatory interview with the Department of Homeland Security
A medical screening
A cultural orientation program (which consists of videos on housing, employment, education, and hygiene, among other topics)
Several of the checks remain current for only a certain period of time, but to qualify for entry into the United States, a potential refugee must have approved status for each step at the same time.

[Tarc]

22. I hate to predict such a thing, but this is going to get someone killed

This is going to whip up such a fear in the red-staters that someone who just "looks like a Muslim" whose car backfires at the wrong time is going to get shot. This is the post-9/11 witch hunt all over again.

[riversedge]

25. I think you are right. Governors are suspose to be moral leaders-not bigots.

[NonMetro]

36. Possibly, but this is a double-edged sword, and people are frightened

If just one refugee - one! - turns it to be an ISIS plant and sets off a bomb somewhere, Democrats might just as well not run a candidate next year. And ISIS has already threatened to do this. Just today, they put out a video threatening an attack on Washington DC.

I agree that innocent refugees shouldn't be punished for what happened in Paris, but this situation just got a lot more difficult for everyone. And politically, even more difficult. And if something like that happens here - if people think it's bad now, as they say: "you ain't seen nothin' yet!"

[riversedge]

24. Republican leaders whipping up the Hate.

[riversedge]

27. ADD:--->Wisconsin Republicans don't want Syrian refugees

http://www.waow.com/story/30530003/2015/11/16/wisconsin-republicans-dont-want-syrian-refugees

Wisconsin Republicans don't want Syrian refugees


Posted: Nov 16, 2015 1:21 PM CST


MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republican leaders of the Wisconsin state Assembly say they don't want Syrian refugees in the state.

They are circulating a letter to be sent to President Barack Obama's administration Monday saying they don't want refugees from Syria in Wisconsin given the Paris terrorist attacks.

.................................Gov. Scott Walker said in September that the U.S. should not take in any more refugees from Syria. His spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment Monday.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says no refugees should be allowed in Wisconsin until steps are taken to ensure no terrorists slip through.

[Paladin]

30. In Texas, the Republicans take care of our terroristic activities. (nt)

[LannyDeVaney]

34. These governors need to learn how to Constitution ...

and they also need to get out of the President's way and let the adults handle this.

[Sunlei]

35. Some Republican 'Leaders' paint all refugees as criminals & terrorists.

and all the other republicans let them, like they're afraid.

[Darb]

37. Big surprise, Repugnant Scaredy-cats, same shit, different day.

Remember Ebola? Repubes used that like a political bludgeon last year before the election. What a bunch of dicks.

[restorefreedom]

39. sadly that list does not surprise me

except for MA. but i hear their governor is a piece of work

[christx30]

41. Wasn't this a movie?

Oh yes, it was.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Second-Civil-James-Coburn/dp/B0007TKNF6

Long story short, governor Beau Bridges is refusing to let a group of Pakistani refugees into Idaho (for reasons), and sets up a blockade using the Idaho National Guard. President Phil Hartman tries to force the issue. Other states join Idaho. War breaks out. It's almost long forgotten, but it popped into my head today.

[kentauros]

42. Greg seems to be late to current events. As usual.

[font size="4"]Four years after fleeing Syria, refugee family getting settled in Houston[/font]
By Emma Hinchliffe | September 8, 2015 | Updated: September 8, 2015 11:00pm


Photo: Steve Gonzales, Staff
During an interview in their west Houston apartment Emad Halabeya (foreground) comforts his son Noor as his wife, Manal holds their son Sultan, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2015, in Houston. The Halabeya family of eight are Syrian refugees who recently arrived in Houston, and will be available for interviews. ( Steve Gonzales / Houston Chronicle )

While the world turned its attention last week to the Syrian refugee crisis, the Halabeya family settled into its new home in Houston, far from the one it abandoned in Homs, Syria.

[font size="4"]Texas Could See Increase in Syrian Refugees[/font]
by Alexa Ura | Sept. 13, 2015

As part of the massive exodus from the Middle East, Texas could soon become home to hundreds of Syrian refugees fleeing their war-stricken country more than 7,100 miles away.


Already, the state is seeing an increase in the number of resettled Syrians. Since October, 123 have been placed in Texas — up from 10 the federal fiscal year before, and 8 the year before that. Though that number remains relatively small, Texas — a hotbed for refugee resettlement — is likely to see a significant increase in the next year as the U.S. prepares to take in 10,000 Syrian refugees.

Though the exact number remains unclear, in recent years about 10 percent of the 70,000 refugees admitted into the country annually have wound up in Texas. And so far, more Syrians have been resettled in Texas than any other state.

Local organizations assisting in refugee resettlement have mostly worked with refugees from Iraq and Burma in recent years, but leaders of these Texas refugee support groups say they are bracing — and hoping — for an influx of Syrian refugees.

(more)

[packman]

45. Grandstanding idiots

If they wanted to reduce acts of terrorism they should confiscate all the guns in the state - Yah, like that will happen. Abbott wants a "guarantee" from Obama and the government that the refugees will be harmless? God, what an ass.

[malthaussen]

46. Sure! We don't want ebola, after all. n/t

[christx30]

48. I don't know if this helps,

But if those states go red in the next election, it'll only be 250 electoral votes.

[AnnieBW]

49. I'm Embarrassed that Maryland Is One of Them

Our Repuke governor - who lost his compassion along with his cancer - said that he doesn't want any refugees. He fails to realize that these refugees are families who are vetted to the hilt before they're let into the country.

Who Would Jesus Turn Away?