Governor Doug Ducey has called for a halt in the federal government’s resettlement of refugees in Arizona. The governor says security concerns prompted the move following last week’s deadly terror attacks in Paris. Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports.
Ducey is among several U.S. governors to resist the arrival of refugees into their states. The governor said the Paris attacks were a reminder of the global war against terrorism. He also called on Congress and President Obama to pass legislation that would give states more say in the refugee resettlement process.
Attackers thought to be linked to the so-called Islamic State killed 129 people and injured more than 350 in Paris last week. Authorities say one of the attackers was a Syrian who may have posed as a refugee as he entered Europe.
Millions of Syrians have fled civil war in their country, and the U.S. plans to take in 10,000 over the next year.
Some refugee and immigrant advocacy groups have been criticalof Governor Ducey’s statement.
One hundred and 12 Syrian refugees arrived in the state this past year, according to the Arizona Refugee Resettlement Program.
