Deal Surrenders on Syrian Refugee Ban

ATLANTA, GA -- Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has rescinded an executive order he issued which attempted to bar Syrians fleeing from the civil war in their homeland from settling in Georgia and accepting federal benefits befitting their refugee status.

Deal announced Monday that he would rescind the order, WSB-TV reports. The decision came in in light of a legal opinion issued by Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens, which stated that Georgia could not legally bar Syrian refugees from settling and receiving government benefits.

“I am unaware of any law or agreement that would permit a state to carve out refugees from particular countries from participation in the refugee resettlement program, no matter how well-intended or justified the desire to carve out such refugees might be,” Olens wrote in his formal opinion, issued Dec. 30.

“Accordingly, it is my official opinion that both federal law and the State’s agreement to act as the state refugee resettlement coordinator prevent the State from denying federally-funded benefits to Syrian refugees lawfully admitted into the United States.”

With the executive order rescinded, Syrian refugees can now receive food stamps and Medicaid, WSB-TV says.