Poll: Should Connecticut Accept Syrian Refugees?

*See below to take our poll.

By Rich Scinto, Patch Staff

Connecticut made national headlines this past week after a Syrian refugee family was accepted into the state after being denied entry into Indiana.

Indiana is one of 31 states that have opposed the entry of refugees. Some governors including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker have called for more information about the federal government vetting process.

Gov. Dannel Malloy came out strongly against governors who were against letting refugees in, and said it was the morally correct thing to help. He took aim at Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who signed an order to not let refugees in.

“This is the same guy who signed a homophobic bill in the spring… I’m not surprised by anything the Governor does,” Malloy said.

The family of three fled war-torn Syria and has been living in Jordan for the past four years, Malloy said. The son wasn’t even a year old when the family left Syria.

“We have an obligation to other nations of the world to do our part,” Malloy said. “...quite frankly if you believe in god it’s the morally correct thing to do.”

Related stories:

• Syrian Refugees Diverted to Connecticut After Being Turned Away in Indiana
• Connecticut Republicans Question Syrian Refugee Plan
• Gov. Malloy Issues Connecticut’s Position on Syrian Refugees

The debate about the refugee situation is also happening at the national level. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 289 to 137 for new screening procedures for Syrian refugees, according to the New York Times. It would require the director of the FBI, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and director of national intelligence to confirm that refugee applicants pose no threat.

The bill was supported by Republicans and 50 Democrats. It will move on to the Senate, which will likely take up the bill after the Thanksgiving break.

Connecticut Republicans have questioned the logistics of letting Syrian refugees into the state.

House Republican Leader Themis Klarides said in a statement that federal authorities should play the lead role in determining who enters the country, but that state homeland security experts and public safety officials must also weigh in.

“We cannot rely solely on people at the federal level to tell us who should be allowed in and where they would be housed – we need to hear from Connecticut’s own experts to come up with a safe, secure plan,’’ Klarides said.

Photo: Women and children among Syrian refugees striking at the platform of Budapest Keleti railway station. Refugee crisis. Budapest, Hungary, Central Europe, 4 September 2015. (3)“ by Mstyslav Chernov - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons