YUMA, Ariz. – AS of Tuesday more than half of the United States’ governors say Syrian refugees are not welcome. This following recent attacks in Paris, Lebanon and the Russian plane crash linked o the extremist group Islamic State. Documents found on a bomber in Paris claim he was a Syrian national who crossed into Europe through Greece. Instilling fear that there may be more extremists amid the refugees accepted into the U.S. and its allied nations.
Although the U.S. State Department says Arizona received 153 Syrian refugees so far this year. Governor Doug Ducey released a statement Monday saying, “Given the horrifying events in Paris last week, I am calling for an immediate halt in the placement of any new refugees in Arizona.” A halt allowed by the law. House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro (R) confirms Arizona lawmakers consulted with federal authorities who say the vetting process has gaps, feeding the concern.
“Even the FBI director stated a couple of months ago that there’s no way the federal government can properly do background checks on these refugees,” said Representative Montenegro.
But Vice President of the Syrian American Council Sohaib Alagha says blaming the victims by association is immoral. That fleeing families seeking a better life should not be condemned for the acts at the hands of the extremist few. “Politicians want to come up with a good public statement to alleviate fear, to the point where it’s not justifiable, but it’s also understandable. But the mentality of blaming the victim, and making people guilty by association, especially the victim of extremist who have been forced to come here as refugee,” said Alagha.
Representative Montenegro stresses the American people are of the utmost priority for state lawmakers and until a screening process they deem acceptable is put in place, the risk of accepting more Syrian refugees should be put on hold.
“Right now we are dealing with refugees coming from a conflict zone and right now our governor is making sure that we do everything we can under the law as a state to protect its citizens and that means making sure that these processes of vetting these refugees are being done right,”said Representative Montenegro.
It’s ultimately up to the federal government to approve the requests to halt the flow of refugees. As states request more information, a deadline for an answer is not yet known.