Syrian Refugee Family Denied Entry into Indiana Finds Home in Connecticut

—reporting by RICH SCINTO (Patch Staff)

A Syrian refugee family turned away from Indiana after Gov. Mike Pence banned refugees from entering instead has found a new home in New Haven, Connecticut.

Gov. Dannel Malloy welcomed the family personally to Connecticut and explained the situation about why they were diverted, a Connecticut Patch reports.

“I told them that people in the United States are generous and good people, but sometimes things happen elsewhere that cause people to forget about their generosity… but that will return to the rest of people in due course.”

The family of three fled war-torn Syria and has been living in Jordan for the past four years. The son had yet to turn 1 year old when the family left Syria.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration sent a letter to Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. notifying them that a family that was scheduled to arrive Nov. 19 would be turned away.

The letter went on to say that all subsequent Syrian arrivals would be suspended or redirected to a state that was willing to accept them.

“It’s heartbreaking. It’s a really sad week for Hoosiers,” Carleen Miller, executive director Exodus Refugee Immigration, told the Indianapolis Star. “I don’t think this represents Hoosiers as we’ve been overwhelmed with calls from supportive people wanting to help Syrian refugees. We need to have a welcoming message for refugees in this state.”

Illinois also will no longer accept Syrian refugees due to heightened security concerns in the wake of last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Gov. Bruce Rauner announced Monday. Since 2011, Illinois has accepted the fourth highest number of Syrian refugees among all states. In a statement, Rauner said future state policy on accepting Syrians displaced by that country’s civil war will be guided by a review from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

“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,” Rauner 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.”