(Hope is working on this script)
INDIANA'S GOVERNOR MIKE PENCE ORDERED STATE AGENCIES TO HALT RESETTLEMENT FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES AND He ORDERED THAT A FAMILY SYRIA BE DIVERTED FROM Indianapolis to Connecticut. Pence said last week he was "deeply moved" by the refugees' plight but was concerned about militants possibly infiltrating the United States through the refugee program.
THIS WEEK THE INDIANA ACLU picked up the case. It FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT on behalf of Exodus Refugee Immigration, a non-profit that helps refugees settle in Indiana. It
accuses THE GOVERNOR OF VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTION'S EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE AND TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT BY ACCEPTING REFUGEES TO INDIANA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BUT NOT FROM SYRIA. And Governos don't have the authority to limit Srian refugees in their states.
Elizabeth OuYang is an immigration attorney and professor at ColumbiaUniversity.
Clip:
(5:17) “This is an issue of immigration that falls under federal government’s prerogative whether or not to allow refugees into the US. That being said, there are things that states could do that could make it less welcoming for refugees and i think that´s detrimental.” (does she say anything else)
While Governors want to be certain that proper security measures are in place before allowing refugees into their states according to OuYang there are processes in place through the refugee relocation system to vet people. Ouyang says states need to have confidence in the process.
CLIP:
The united states has always valued being a home for those fearing political persecution and the irony is the syrian refugees are fleeing the very terrorism that we are afraid of, and i think that´s important to recognize and that some of our own efforts, the united states’ and other european countries’ fight against ISIS, has led to a mass exodus of innocent syrians who are the unintended victims of the bombs and the attacks to wipe out ISIS.”
4 million refugees have fled war torn Syria (check #)
President Obama says shutting off borders to refugees is not a way to handle this refugee crisis.
Obama: (29) “Another part of defeating terrorists like ISIL is upholding the rights and freedoms that define our two great republics. That includes freedom of religion, that includes equality before the law, there have been times in our history, in moments of fear, when we have failed to uphold our highest ideals, and it has been to our lasting regret. We must uphold our ideals now. Each of us, all of us, must show that america is strengthened by people of every faith, and every background.”
The ACLU says "Our Indiana lawsuit is quite simple. It argues that the governor has no right to bar refugees because doing so clearly violates equal protection," On tuesday the Indiana Governor reaffirmed his commitment to stop the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state, despite the lawsuit and despite not having authority to do so.
Hope McKenney WBAI News NY