Gov. Scott Walker: 'Wisconsin will not accept new Syrian refugees'
MADISON — Gov. Scott Walker says Wisconsin will not accept any new Syrian refugees in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris because they pose a threat.
Walker issued a statement Monday calling on President Barack Obama to not allow any Syrian refugees into the United States pending a full review of security and acceptance procedures. Walker does not say in his statement how Wisconsin would prevent any refugees from relocating in the state.
Walker and other governors are raising concerns about accepting Syrian refugees after a Syrian passport was found near one of the Paris terrorist attackers.
In a statement, Gov. Walker said the following:
In light of these horrific and tragic attacks, our first priority must be to protect our citizens. Along with governors across the country, I have deep concerns about the Obama Administration’s plan to accept 10,000 or more Syrian refugees, especially given that one of the Paris attackers was reportedly a Syrian refugee. In consultation with our Adjutant General, who also serves as my Homeland Security Advisor, it is clear that the influx of Syrian refugees poses a threat.
With this in mind, I am calling upon the President to immediately suspend the program pending a full review of its security and acceptance procedures. The State of Wisconsin will not accept new Syrian refugees.
There may be those who will try to take advantage of the generosity of our country and the ability to move freely within our borders through this federal resettlement program, and we must ensure we are doing all we can to safeguard the security of Americans.
Furthermore, I am opposed to recently introduced legislation encouraging the state to accept Syrian refugees in Wisconsin.
Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says lawmakers were also preparing a letter to the Obama administration saying no Syrian refugees should be allowed in the state until security measures are improved.
In a statement, Vos said the following:
“Wisconsin citizens are our first priority and their safety must come first. With no guarantee that a refugee does not have an association with radical Islamic terrorists, we cannot take any chances. This is not the time to open our doors to Syrian refugees.
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of France.”
Assembly Republicans have drafted a letter to the Office of Refugee Resettlement in Washington, D.C.
CLICK HERE to read that letter.