Credit: PA Independent
Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to continue a state and federal partnership to allow Syrian refugees settle in Pennsylvania has stirred controversy in the wake of last week’s deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.
On Monday afternoon, Jeffrey Sheridan, press secretary to Wolf, confirmed to LevittownNow.com that Pennsylvania will continue to accept refugees from war torn Syria. Many opponents are concerned fighters for ISIS could sneak in with Syrian refugees, as some have suspected as Europe accepts Syrian refugees.
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“While details are still emerging regarding the individuals responsible for the heinous attacks in Paris, all of those responsible committed atrocious acts and must be brought to justice. We must not lose sight of the fact that families leaving Syria are trying to escape the same violence and unimaginable terror that took place in Paris and Beirut,” Wolf said in a statement.
The first-term governor added that the relocation program run by the federal government works with local charitable organizations in Pennsylvania to find new homes for the displaced Syrians. He also said Pennsylvania authorities will ensure refugees have “gone through the proper screening process.”
“Governor Wolf wants Pennsylvania to continue to build on its rich history of accepting immigrants and refugees from around the world but he is also committed to protecting Pennsylvanians and will work with the Federal Government to ensure it is taking every precaution necessary in screening those families coming into the country,” Sheridan said in an email.
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Wolf has taken heat for his stance.
A Change.org petition requests Wolf denounce the program had 24,592 supporters as of 11:45 a.m.
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Senator Pat Toomey called for the federal government to suspend the relocation program. He said: “we must reexamine our security protocols for admitting Syrian refugees. While most refugees are innocent people in dire situations, unfortunately we presently have no fully reliable way of vetting those who come from chaotic terrorist havens such as Syria.”
As of Tuesday at noon, 27 governors have said they won’t accept Syrian refugees into their states.
While the governors statements seems to have heralded on social media, their no-refugee stance arguments are essentially symbolic statements since the program is handled through the federal government. However, states are able to refuse to offer their resources to help the federal government with the relocation program.
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“The U.S. has taken in 2,131 Syrian refugees between Oct. 1, 2011, and Nov. 10, with just over 1,800 of them arriving since the beginning of this January,” the State Department relayed to the Associated Press.
The refugees have to undergo multiple security screening processes before being allowed to settle in the U.S.
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In Allentown, home to a large Syrian community, more than three dozen Syrian refugees have been accepted, the Allentown Morning Call reported.
Nationwide, more than 10,000 Syrian refugees are expected to brought in over the next year.
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