TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The list of governors who oppose the idea of letting Syrian refugees into their states is steadily increasing.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott is among a group of 27 governors who have spoken out against the idea. Despite the number of governors expressing their concerns, the decision on whether Syrian immigrants will be allowed in Florida or any other state is up to the federal government.
"We are asking the United States Congress to take immediate and aggressive action to prevent President Obama and his administration from using any federal tax dollars to fund the relocation of up to 425 Syrian refugees (the total possible number of refugees pending for state relocation support at this time) to Florida, or anywhere in the United States, without an extensive evaluation of the risk these individuals may pose to our national security," Scott said in a letter to the Speaker of the House.
Only 15,000 Syrian refugees have been accepted into the U.S. since 2011, but the Obama administration announced in September that 10,000 Syrians will be allowed to enter the country next year.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, also came forward and though he did not come out against allowing refugees into Florida, called for more details to be released on the federal governments screening process to ensure that legitimate threats against the U.S. did not come into the country.
"The attacks in Paris further illustrate the threat ISIS poses to our national security. And while I believe it's important that we as a country remain compassionate to those in need, I also believe that the security of our nation must always come first. The screening process takes up to two years, so I have asked the administration for additional details on its plan and I want to know how they will screen these refugees to ensure that there are absolutely no potential national security or terrorism concerns."
Congressman Ander Crenshaw, R-Florida, also called for a deeper look into the U.S.'s refugee screening and resettlement process in a recent statement but said he wanted a temporary suspension of any Syrian resettlement in the U.S. until that check was done.
"ISIS's slaughter of innocent life in Paris adds another layer of darkness to the terrorists' unending quest to perpetuate evil around the globe. America stands united with France and all freedom-loving countries in a mission to rid the globe of such barbarism while also helping protect the lives of innocent Syrians who are seeking safe haven.
"The United States has a long history of accepting refugees who are the fleeing hardship, oppression, and conflict. In that often complicated process, protecting the homeland will always be our top priority. That's why proper screening and vetting of all refugees who seek entrance into this country must be in place to ensure national security is not compromised."
Those who help refugees make the transition to life in the U.S., and the refugees themselves, say it's a matter of survival for many families.
"It's like the last door you're knocking on, (and) if that door's not open to you, that's it, it's the end," refugee Lita Amin said.
Amin moved to Jacksonville after threats of violence and death in her home country of Iraq sent her and her family in search of a safe place to live. She said she can relate to the thousands of Syrian refugees displaced right now.
The opposition from governors comes after authorities revealed that at least one of the suspects believed to be involved in last week's Paris terrorist attacks entered Europe among the current wave of Syrian refugees.
Civil liberties groups on Monday denounced Scott's desire to close Florida's borders to additional refugees from Syria.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Florida, the state's largest Muslim civil-liberties and advocacy organization, issued a release condemning "Scott's divisive statement" against the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Florida.
"In these moments of pain and escalated fear, we should be able to look to our elected officials to guide the healing process and refrain from harmful rhetoric," CAIR Florida said in a release. "Gov. Scott's un-American statement is in fact playing into terrorists' goal to turn the world against refugees who are fleeing their violence."
CAIR Florida said Scott's rhetoric legitimizes discriminatory actions against the Muslim-American community.
"Even before Gov. Scott's statement, CAIR Florida saw an increase in hate incidents toward the Florida Muslim community in the aftermath of the tragic Paris attacks," the release said.
Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said Scott is blaming refugees for the violence that they are trying to escape.
"Not only is the settlement of refugees an obligation of the U.S. State Department, not state governors, but the U.S. refugee system is extremely rigorous, involving multiple background checks and vetting by the Department of Homeland Security," ACLU of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon said in a release. "By claiming in the wake of the tragedy in Paris that this vetting process is suddenly insufficient for Florida, Gov. Scott is punishing refugees for the horrible attacks perpetrated by the kinds of terrorists they are trying to escape." '
Amin was almost the victim of those attacks after she was targeted and had to leave her home country after two attempts to kidnap and kill her failed.
"For me as a woman, Christian, working with embassies, I became a triple trouble," Amin said. "They get out of the car towards our car and they get to my door, he pulled up the gun and put it on my side and he was all, I remember he was saying, 'I'm sorry Lita, I'm sorry,' and I was that moment, I saw the movie of my whole life going through."
An American tank passed by and the men left, but it was enough to make Amin realize that it was time to leave. She and her husband and son left for Lebanon and applied for refugee status. It took 19 months before they were accepted.
"It's not an easy process, believe me, security background check, they check you internationally, locally, everything. Most people think it's a matter of they just sit and wait and that's all, (but) no," Amin said.
It can take anywhere from 18 months to 17 years for a refugee to be approved to come to the U.S. Amin said that when people see refugees, they don't see the innocent people like her who have nowhere to turn.
"You know very well if you go back you will be killed, will be kidnapped, so you are going to lose your life, you're going to lose your children. So it is important, it is your last chance and it's your last hope," Amin said.
World Relief Jacksonville helped Amin start a new life in Jacksonville and since 1991 has helped thousands of refugees assimilate into U.S. culture from countries across the world, including Syria. The organization believes that it should continue that mission, despite the governor's stance.
"They are our neighbors, they are in our communities, they are at the stores we go to and they are in our churches. You know, they are us, essentially," Travis Trice, who works for World Relief Jacksonville, said.
States whose governors oppose allowing Syrian refugees:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin