Texas is rejecting planned refugee resettlement in line with Gov. Greg Abbott's commitment to not let any Syrian refugees into the state. | AP Photo Texas sues over Syrian refugees

Texas is suing the federal government and the International Rescue Committee over planned refugee resettlement in the state.

The suit was filed on Wednesday by State Attorney General Ken Paxton on behalf of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, The Dallas Morning News first reported. The IRC, which has helped the State Department settle eight Syrian refugees in Texas, wrote in a letter Monday that "Syrian refugees are the most vetted group of people to come to the United States." In a follow-up letter on Tuesday, the group said it remained committed to "constructive conversations" with Gov. Greg Abbott and his administration.


The state's HHSC was apparently not persuaded, however, and is seeking a temporary restraining order to block resettlement, saying that the IRC had not adequately consulted state officials and citing “reasonable concerns about the safety and security of the citizenry of the State of Texas.”

“While Texans are compassionate to our core, and take in more refugees than any other state, significant security concerns have been raised about President Obama’s plans to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees this fiscal year, nationwide,” Paxton said in a statement. “The federal government’s stated inability to run effective background checks on these refugees, entering the United States from one of the world’s most potent hotbeds of terrorism, puts all Texans at risk. Under the law, the federal government has a responsibility to consult with states in advance when relocating refugees, and has not fulfilled that burden here.

“The point of this lawsuit is not about specific refugees, it is about protecting Texans by ensuring that the federal government fulfills its obligation to properly vet the refugees and cooperate and consult with the state," he continued.

“We have been working diligently with the International Rescue Committee to find a solution that ensures the safety and security for all Texans, but we have reached an impasse and will now let the courts decide,” HHSC spokesman Bryan Black said to The Morning News.