Gov. Abbott: No Syrian Refugees in Texas

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Monday that Texas will not accept any Syrian refugees following a series of attacks in Paris that left more than 100 dead Friday night.

“Given the tragic attack in Paris and the threats we have already seen in Texas, coupled with the FBI director’s acknowledgment that we do not have the information necessary to effectively vet Syrian nationals, Texas cannot participate in any program that will result in Syrian refugees - any one of whom could be connected to terrorism - being resettled in Texas,” Abbott wrote Monday in a letter to President Obama.

Texas became at least the fourth state to issue such an order, joining Alabama, Michigan and Louisiana in refusing to accept refugees into its borders.

“And I urge you, as president, to halt your plans to allow Syrians to be resettled anywhere in the United States,” Abbott wrote to Obama. “Neither you nor any federal official can guarantee that Syrian refugees will not be part of any terroristic activity.

“As such, opening our door to them irresponsibly exposes our fellow Americans to unacceptable peril.”

Image via Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons