Gov. Peter Shumlin said Monday that Vermont will welcome refugees from Syria, and he criticized governors who said they wouldn’t accept them due to security concerns related to the terrorist attack in Paris.
Shumlin said “seven or eight” Syrian refugees are in the process of relocating to Vermont. “The refugees from Syria are no different than the refugees from anywhere else in the world,” Shumlin told reporters. “I would encourage us to do what Vermont has always done … It’s the spirit of all Vermonters to ensure that when you have folks who are drowning, who are dying in pursuit of freedom, that Vermont does its part.”
By Monday afternoon, the governors of 15 states, including New Hampshire and Massachusetts, declared they would seek to either stop accepting or place a moratorium on accepting Syrian refugees, citing security concerns. (The other states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin.)
“I would say no as of right now,” Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters, according to the Boston Globe. “No, I’m not interested in accepting refugees from Syria. My view on this is, the safety and security of the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is my highest priority. So I would set the bar very high on this.”
Shumlin said Vermont would potentially welcome more Syrians than are currently scheduled to arrive.
“I know Vermont can take more than seven,” Shumlin said during a press conference outside the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, where he and other officials gathered to tout a recent drop in the state’s inmate population.
He said that other governors who are rejecting the refugees are “stomping on” the values that “make America great.” Shumlin said the vetting process includes reviews by the U.S. State Department. “I have confidence in the process. We have a good screening process,” Shumlin said. “The Refugee Resettlement Program works closely with the State Department.”
The Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program typically resettles 300 to 350 refugees a year.
On Monday, President Barack Obama, who earlier this year authorized the country to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees fleeing a brutal civil war, criticized officials who support a ban.
“Slamming the door in their faces would be against our values,” he said.
Police are said to be investigating a Syrian passport found near where suicide bombers blew themselves up outside a Paris soccer stadium targeted during a series of coordinated attacks.
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It takes 1 year to vet an American for top secret status with all that is at our disposal. So where are they getting the information to vet these people? Even Government heads (FBI) are saying we are not vetting them so how can we make sure our safety is the number one priority?
I have no problem with Vermont taking in some Syrian refugees, but our Hypocrite-in-Chief has no business morally lecturing the rest of America on this issue. He doesn’t trust the NRC, but he trusts the State Dept. The State Dept. has a “good screening process,” says Governor Duplicity. Of course, when he made that statement he didn’t know the first thing about the State Dept.’s screening process. But that doesn’t stop him from saying something he knows absolutely nothing about. Why didn’t you guys in the press immediately ask him to describe that “screening process”?
Who’s to say they will stay in Vermont. Its not like each state has a border. Apparently. His priorities are for the refugees not Americans.
If Shumlin wants them here,let them live with him. This is a huge mistake. They shouldn’t come!
Bad idea , why bring these so called refugees 8 thousand miles to America, when there is other Muslim countries closer,.,,ahhh because Muslim Countries wont take them cause ISIS is embedded within this Muslim Invasion. Its crazy to welcome Terrorism into Vermont,at least Vermont has open carry law to protect those who carry….its going to get ugly people our Government bringing terrorism to our homes
This is a nation of immigrants. Almost all of us are either immigrants ourselves or descended from immigrants.
Governor Shumlin, himself descended from immigrants, is doing nothing more than expressing basic American principles. He should be commended for doing so.
They Must go thru rigorous screening!!! Or don’t accept them!
@Susan Hoyt —
They do go through rigorous screening — it takes refugee applicants about two years to be vetted, and the screening for those coming from conflict zones is even longer.
The process for admission is extensive and excludes many.
http://www.state.gov/documents/organizatio…
Why does Shumlin get to decide who comes to Vermont without any local discussion or input? Given the mounting evidence of increased terrorist activity worldwide, I have little faith in our local, state and federal government’s knowledge of terrorists already in the U.S. I’d like to know how refugees are currently screened/vetted. Does the process vary from entry point or is there a formula for acceptance? Maybe resettlement ought to be an issue each municipalities votes on in March by ballots or at town meetings. I am really weary of the government deciding for me who gets to go where and when.
For which there was little before, we now have a total suspension of intelligence. What will our ‘talking head in chief’ say to us dopes when the shit hits the fan here?
Suggestion: do not allow anyone in until this country has a total handle on the so called ‘screening process’. Seal the borders.
I agree with the other poster, let ’em live with Shummy…
The refugees I have seen photos of were military age males. And they will stand in front of our State Capitol and scream for all of the things they would not fight for in their native countries. Be prepared. This will get ugly. It’s not immigration, it is an invasion.
I agree with Bruce Robson.. let Shumlin and the rest of the Liberals support them out of their own pockets, seeing they want them so bad….we have enough on welfare as it is..There has been refugees that Shumlin has allowed in that has raped and stolen and other criminal actions.. what about them?? When the FBI say they can’t vet these people how can Vermont do it.. there’s no way to check on these people..I don’t care how “rigorous screening” they do..you don’t think these Syrian males don’t lie?? This is my State, I pay taxes, I have family and friends who I want to be safe..Shumlin has no rights to accept any refugees until he hears from the citizens of Vermont..Shumlin put your big boy pants on and tell obama NO!!!!!
As a nation of immigrants, some wanted by their home countries for treason or worse, we sure have gotten judgmental. Given the homegrown terrorists we have, the neo-Nazis, the skinheads, the white supremacists, we’re in much more danger from them than we are from any single ISIS member who may get through the screening. IN the meantime, we’re saving children from refugee camps and drowning in the Mediterranean trying to escape a hell most of us cannot even imagine. Add to this the religious mandate of Jesus to welcome and succor those in such straights, and where is the Christian in those of you casting the first stone?
Perhaps you shouldn’t be citing Jesus as a reason for Vermont to take in immigrants. That is so christian-ist.
Are you kidding me!!!!… This is why our country is the way it is….All you ignorant bleeding heart liberals…. It’s been said over and over .THERE IS NO WAY TO VET THEM PERIOD!!!!!! Our citizens should come first OUR VETERANS who fought & shed blood for US .SHOULD COME FIRST…We have vets living in the streets….THE JOB OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES…Not IMPORT terrorists ….. But then again he is the enemy within …. May it be on your head SHUMLIN if anything happens to the people of VT and the people of OUR country …. May it be your family first…Then we’ll see ….. TRUMP 2016 !!!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!!! Bringing HOPE back to the AMERICAN PEOPLE…
East is East and West is West and what part of that don’t people get? Look Americans and most of the West has worked hard to reduce our populations in order to protect the environment. In Islam women are to have many children. Often men with means have many wives all producing children with the Islamic goal of advancing Islam around the world. All the work done by the West to ensure a future for the planet is about to be ended. Anyone with any interest in this must know by now that the intention of Islam to dominate the world and the womb is used as a weapon. Wake up people.
Welcome to the new Socialist States of America! Come one, Come all we accept all imports.. Lets kick the veterans and homeless and low income workers all to the curb..Then take away all help, all hope and any benefit regardless of if these real and true Americans ever worked for it! Install all these refugees… Open up your coffers and watch ISIS come in and take over!!! Anyone hear the story of the trojen horse… Well it is in Vermont!! Soon to penetrate our lives permanently!!
OMG, You people call yourselves Vermonters. Sad, Sad. I’m a rural Vermonter but I’be lived in Muslim counries for 5 of the past 10 years, plus China for 2 yaers. I have been welcomed and helped by people from all over…
I hope I get to welcome these people. Not YOU!