CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The attacks in Paris have prompted governors of at least 19 states to declare they will not be open to the resettlement of Syrian refugees. The action comes following the revelation by investigators that one of the Paris bombers likely entered Europe with the wave of Syrians trying to escape the war in their country.
“I demand the U.S. act similarly,” tweeted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. “Security comes first.”
Gov. Rick Snyder said Michigan has a “rich history of immigration… but our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”
West Virginia does not appear to be directly impacted by the Syrian refugee relocation program, according to Gov. Tomblin’s communications director Chris Stadelman.
“The governor’s office has not been contacted by the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement regarding large-scale placements of Syrian refugees,” said Stadelman, “and we do not anticipate a federal request for placement of refugees in West Virginia.”
Stadelman added that any smaller placements would likely take more than a year to occur, and the state would “make appropriate preparations, as necessary.”