Pence stops Syrian refugee resettlement in Indiana

After the terrorist attacks in Paris, Republican Gov. Mike Pence said Monday that he is suspending the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Indiana.

He joined governors from at least 15 other states, including those from Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio and Texas, who said they won't accept Syrian refugees after reports suggest one of the Paris bombers may have posed as a Syrian refugee.

"Indiana has a long tradition of opening our arms and homes to refugees from around the world but, as governor, my first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers," Pence said in a statement.

He said he was directing all state agencies to stop resettling Syrian refugees in Indiana until the federal government can provide assurances that "proper security measures are in place."

About 40 Syrian refugees have been resettled in Indiana since 2010, according to Marni Lemons, a spokeswoman for the state Family and Social Services Administration, which oversees refugee resettlement. The state takes in about 1,600 refugees from all countries each year, with the largest population being Burmese.

Lemons said resettlement policies are "completely at the discretion of local and state communities" and said she could not elaborate on what kind of "proper security measures" the governor was calling for.

However, others questioned whether governors even have the authority to keep out refugees. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, asked congressional leaders to stop federal funding for the relocation of refugees to his state, because he did not believe he had the power to do so.

Local nonprofits that work with refugees say security checks are already rigorous -- so rigorous that the only Syrian family resettled by Catholic Charities Indianapolis had to wait three years to gain clearance, said director of refugee services Heidi Smith.

"We hope that any concerns Gov. Pence has concerning Syrian refugees be resolved quickly because the lives of so many families are at risk," she said in a statement. "Thousands of refugees from the Middle East, primarily from Syria, have been fleeing their homeland due to the barbaric acts by terrorists, and these are the same groups responsible for recent terrorist acts in other parts of the world. Regardless of their religious affiliation, refugees from Syria deserve our respect care and protection from this horrible persecution."

Exodus Refugee Immigration of Indianapolis said refugees are "the most screened group of newcomers entering the country." Refugees face security screenings and health screenings, including extensive background checks from U.S. security agencies and in-person screening by Homeland Security.

In a statement, Exodus said it was "disheartened" by Pence's action.

"This is a misplaced reaction to the recent attacks in Paris – one that is not based in fact but in fear," the Exodus statement said. "It is a reaction that blames the very people fleeing ISIS and puts them at further risk."

Exodus resettles approximately 900 refugees a year, but within the last year, only 20 of those refugees have been Syrians. Earlier this year, Exodus was among the many organizations urging the U.S. to welcome more Syrian refugees.

Some said governors blocking Syrian refugees represented political maneuvering, and not actual security concerns.

"Banning Syrians doesn't make us any safer," said Elizabeth Dunn, Indiana University assistant professor of geography and international studies. "This is disgusting bigotry in its worst form. This has nothing to do with risk. Most of the Syrian refugees are people fleeing ISIS. They're not part of ISIS."

It is Islamophobia, she said, to consider all Syrian refugees to be potential Islamic State threats. The U.S. has allowed refugees from other countries ravaged by civil wars and extremist groups, such as Vietnam and Somalia.

"You could say, well, America has the KKK, or the Oklahoma City bombers, but would you paint all Americans with that brush? We shouldn't do that to Syrians, either," Dunn said.

Several Republican leaders in Indiana praised Pence for stopping the resettlement of Syrian refugees.

"With matters of national security, there is no room for error," Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Young said in a statement.

“I think it’s a probably prudent step at this moment, said Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis. "A lot of things are changing internationally right now, and there’s a lot of flux so I think it’s a smart move for the moment, needs to be re-examined to see if it’s a long-term prohibition or just short.”

U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, an Indianapolis Democrat and the second Muslim to be elected to Congress, had a different take.

"As a member of our Intelligence Committee," Carson said, "I believe that rather than looking for ways to keep refugees out, we should be discussing how we can strengthen our screening processes to better detect those who pose a risk to our country.”

The Indiana Democratic Party declined to comment on the issue. A campaign manager for Democrat John Gregg, Pence’s opponent in the 2016 race for governor, said in a statement: “Like everyone else, John Gregg was outraged by the barbaric events in Paris over the weekend and he feels strongly that every Hoosier should feel safe in their homes, at work and at school. We trust that Mike Pence made this decision based on information he’s received as governor from both state and federal intelligence sources and didn’t do this as a knee jerk reaction motivated by politics.”

President Barack Obama is continuing with plans to accept refugees from Syria, despite the reactions from some governors.

"We also have to remember that many of these refugees are the victims of terrorism themselves. That's what they're fleeing. Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values," Obama said in Turkey on Monday. "Our nations can welcome refugees who are desperately seeking safety and ensure our own security. We can and must do both."

USA Today and reporters Chelsea Schneider and Maureen Groppe contributed to this report. Call Star reporter Stephanie Wang at (317) 444-6184. Follow her on Twitter: @stephaniewang.

Reactions from Indiana politicians:

“We can certainly produce international aid and should to the refugees to help that situation right now, wherever they may be. But right now the United States needs to make certain we’re not inviting trouble into our borders. The president’s job is to protect the country first and foremost, and the governor’s job is to protect the state of Indiana. I think he’s doing the right thing right now.” -- Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne

“I think it’s a probably prudent step at this moment. A lot of things are changing internationally right now, and there’s a lot of flux so I think it’s a smart move for the moment, needs to be re-examined to see if it’s a long-term prohibition or just short,” -- Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma, R- Indianapolis

“I applaud Governor Pence for his leadership on prioritizing the safety and security of Hoosiers. As the world continues to come to terms with the horrific terrorist attacks in Paris last Friday, the threat of extremist attacks looms over the United States. While millions of Syrians, including women, children, and orphans have endured immense hardships, current State Department mechanisms are inadequate because often no paperwork exists, and since they are arriving from a failed state in Syria, it is nearly impossible to determine who is a threat and who is safe. My responsibility is to ensure the safety of the people of the Second District and it’s in our best interests to halt the program until we have more information on who these refugees are and how the State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI plans to track these individuals.” -- U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, Republican

“While the United States is a compassionate and welcoming country, our government has an obligation to protect American citizens,” said Coats. “We should not accept any Syrian refugees in Indiana or across the country unless the U.S. government can guarantee, with 100 percent assurance, that they are not members, supporters or sympathizers of ISIS.” -- U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind.

“I applaud Governor Pence for taking necessary precautions to protect Hoosiers. With matters of national security, there is no room for error. We must be certain that our verification procedures protect the American people from the threats we face, and certainly the very specific, direct threats ISIS issued against our homeland in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris. Until the federal government verifies that a secure process is in place to systematically vet and ID Syrian refugees, America’s humanitarian relief must be limited to international efforts currently underway abroad. In addition, the United States must work with our NATO allies to develop a robust refugee strategy. Absent such a strategy, the region will destabilize further and embolden ISIS." -- U.S. Rep. Todd Young, Republican

“We are a welcoming, humanitarian nation and state; however, in light of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris – and the threats we face around the world – it’s critical that we prioritize the safety of the American people. Therefore, I support Governor Pence’s decision to suspend Syrian refugee resettlement in Indiana and believe the same step should be taken by the federal government until a thorough, effective, and verifiable vetting process is in place.” -- U.S. Rep. Larry Buschon, Republican

“I share the Governor’s concerns, and think it’s necessary to ask questions about the process of screening Syrian refugees until every one of those questions is answered. When it comes to our national security, we should not take any short cuts and we must have assurances that we can protect our safety and security here at home.” – U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.

“The United States was founded as a land of opportunity. We have a humanitarian duty to provide a safe haven for those escaping persecution and violence. As a member of our Intelligence Committee, I believe that rather than looking for ways to keep refugees out, we should be discussing how we can strengthen our screening processes to better detect those who pose a risk to our country.” -- U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, Democrat