Republican governors around the country are doing what terrorists want by taking the Paris attacks as an excuse to reject Syrian refugees. Now, when we talk about Syrian refugees in the United States, this is who we're talking about:
The refugees who have arrived from Syria since 2012 have been placed in 130 towns and cities. They are among the most vulnerable people in the war: single mothers and their children; religious minorities; victims of violence or torture.
These are the people who Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley was rejecting when he said he “will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way.” He claimed he was talking about terrorists, but really he was talking about the victims of brutal war. Bentley was joined by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, who had this to say:
"Michigan is a welcoming state and we are proud of our rich history of immigration," Snyder said in the statement. "But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents."
Welcoming … but not in times of the worst need, apparently. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence announced that “effective immediately, I am directing all state agencies to suspend the resettlement of additional Syrian refugees in the state of Indiana pending assurances from the federal government that proper security measures have been achieved.” According to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, “American humanitarian compassion could be exploited to expose Americans to similar deadly danger,” so the answer is to do away with American humanitarian compassion. Louisiana governor and third-tier Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal got extra creepy:
"The Louisiana State Police, upon receiving information of a Syrian refugee already relocated within the State of Louisiana, are authorized and directed to utilize all lawful means to monitor and avert threats within the State of Louisiana," he added.
Yeah? All threats? If the next Dylann Roof is collecting guns and Confederate paraphernalia in Louisiana, is Jindal going to be right on that, or will he be too busy monitoring some poor Syrian refugee who’s fled worse terror than Jindal can imagine?
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, said that while he’d work with the federal government to ensure the best possible screening process, “We must not lose sight of the fact that families leaving Syria are trying to escape the same violence and unimaginable terror that took place in Paris and Beirut.”
Sign and send the petition to the White House: I support admitting Syrian refugees into the United States.
