The backlash against Syrian refugees coming to America in the wake of the attacks in Paris on Friday is being joined by some of Florida’s elected leaders.
In the fiscal year ending September 30, Florida had accepted about 100 Syrian refugees, placing it among the top six states. President Obama has announced that an additional 10,000 would come in during the current fiscal year, many of whom could come to Florida.
Gov. Rick Scott has ordered the Florida Department of Children and Families, which receives federal funds, not to support efforts to relocate the up to 425 Syrian refugees destined to be resettled in Florida.
“The President’s got to stop and think; we don’t have enough information,” said Scott. “We do know that one of the terrorists posed as a Syrian refugee. Why wouldn’t we slow down, let’s get all the information, and then make a decision.”
The Governor -- appearing on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” -- conceded that the federal government and not the states makes the decision on placing refugees. He has sent letters to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“Don’t allow any federal funds to be used to relocate any Syrian refugees to Florida,” said the Governor. Let’s find out what happened in Paris, let’s find out how good our security is.”
About 2,000 refugees from Syria have relocated to the U.S. since 2012, according to the New York Times. Scott is among about 30 governors – mostly Republican – who are voicing concerns about this new wave moving to their states.
State Rep. Doug Broxson (R-Gulf Breeze) is among legislators asking Gov. Scott to suspend the state’s participation in the United Nations refugee resettlement program – even though states have no such authority.
“I think if you look at what’s happening in Europe, primarily in France, there is some second thinking about the open borders, allowing people to come in that really refuse to be part of the culture that they’re coming into,” Broxson said. “There’s (sic) a lot of people who are concerned, there are a lot of people who are afraid right now that we’re invited problems into our midst.”
Broxson also likens federal requirements to take the refugees as just another unfunded federal mandate.
State Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and his son, state Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) have offered to Gov. Rick Scott their support for any border-closing legislation.
