NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee lawmakers want Governor Bill Haslam to suspend all efforts to settle Syrian refugees until a federal review can be conducted, according to WKRN News 2.
In the last year, 1,908 Syrians relocated to the United States. According to the Refugee Processing Center, 35 settled in Tennessee and 92 in Kentucky from Nov. 2014 to Nov. 2015.
In a letter created by Rep. Sheila Butt (R-TN), she asks that the governor suspend efforts to settle any Syrian refugees until the U.S. Department of Homeland Security completes a full review of security clearances and procedures.
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) also posted a lengthy statement on her Facebook page. In it she said that although she believes it is critical the United States “make efforts to aid those who are persecuted in the Middle East,” the security of the American people must be the country’s first priority.
Rep. Black has cosponsored Congressman Brian Babin’s (R-TX) Resettlement Accountability National Security Act, which places an immediate moratorium on all refugee resettlement programs until the Government Accountability Office completes a thorough study outlining the true costs of these programs to federal, state and local governments.
On Sunday evening, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley released a statement saying he will not permit Syrian refugees to relocate to his state. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a letter to President Obama that Texas will not take in any new Syrian refugees.
*WKRN News 2 contributed to this report