Hogan Says No To Syrian Refugees In Maryland

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joined the list of nation’s governors on Tuesday who say they do not want to re-settle Syrian refugees.

Hogan’s statement said he was requesting that federal authorities hold off on sending refugees from the Middle Eastern country until there are assurances that the refugees pose no security concerns.

Parts of Syria are controlled by the Islamic State, and President Barack Obama has said the United States will take in 10,000 Syrian refugees as thousands of immigrants race to Europe, some dying in the process, to flee the fighting.

“As governor of Maryland, the safety and security of Marylanders remains my first priority,” Hogan said. “Following the terrorist attacks on Paris just four days ago, and after careful consideration, I am now requesting that federal authorities cease any additional settlements of refugees from Syria in Maryland until the U.S. government can provide appropriate assurances that refugees from Syria pose no threat to public safety.”

As of Tuesday morning, 27 governors had issued statements saying they would bar Syrian refugees from settling in their states, reports Vox.com.

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) said in a statement that he could not disagree more with Hogan’s request to cease the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Maryland.

“Turning our backs on refugees fleeing the same senseless violence we witnessed in Paris is not just heartless, it is a betrayal of America’s values,” Cummings said. “Preserving the safety of Maryland’s residents and providing refuge for Syrians fleeing violence are not mutually exclusive; we can and must do both.”

The proclamations carry no legal weight, argue critics, because states don’t have the authority to bar refugees from settling within their borders. Governors can ask the State Department not to send refugees to their state, and may decide not to provide state resources to help newcomers.

States on record as opposing the refugees include Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Arizona, Michigan and Illinois. Of those states, all but one have Republican governors, reports CNN.

The Republican governor’s policy is at odds with the position outlined Monday by President Obama, who said the United States can and should provide a safe haven for some of the millions of refugees seeking asylum from terror, while at the same time taking a hard line against the Islamic State and ensuring the security and safety of the American people.

Not accepting refugees is a “betrayal of U.S. values,” the president said.