Pence Blocks Syrian Refugee Resettlement In Response To Paris Terrorist Attacks

Gov. Mike Pence moved quickly to halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees into Indiana following this past weekend's terrorist attacks in Paris, France. Terrorist groups associated with ISIS have claimed credit for the multi-front attacks in Paris late Friday night that left nearly 130 dead and hundreds more injured. It is believed as least one of those involved in the deadly terrorist attack was a recent immigrant from Syria who entered Europe as a refugee.

Governors from the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan and Texas had already publicly stated their states would not be accepting any Syrian refugees. The Obama administration has started to admit the first of what are expected to be at least 10,000 refugees brought to the U.S. for resettlement over the next year. Obama today rejected calls to halt further resettlement of Syrians following the latest terrorist attacks. "Slamming the door in their faces would be a betrayal of our values," he said. "Our nations can welcome refugees who are desperately seeking safety and ensure our own security. We can and must do both."

Gov. Pence defended his decision because of concerns refugees are not being properly screened by the federal government. "Indiana has a long tradition of opening our arms and homes to refugees from around the world but, as governor, my first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers," Pence said in a statement.

UPDATE: Add Illinois to that list. Gov. Bruce Rauner has also halted the flow of Syrian refugees into his state. "Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict, but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America," Rauner said in a statement. "We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens."

I'm betting if push comes to shove the states won't be able to block Obama from sending refugees wherever he chooses to send them. I still remember President Jimmy Carter sending more than 25,000 Cuban refugees to Fort Chafee in Arkansas back in late 1970s during the Mariel boatlift where Fidel Castro flooded our country with refugees by emptying the worst criminal offenders held in his country's jails and putting them on boats to Florida. When the refugees began rioting and setting buildings on fire, Bill Clinton's Republican opponent in the gubernatorial race successfully used the issue to defeat Clinton in his re-election bid in 1980, the only general election he ever lost. They say Clinton never forgave Carter for that mess.

UPDATE II: The CIA's newspaper of record, Gannett, confirms governors can do little to stop refugee resettlement.

UPDATE III: The list of governors calling for a halt on refugees has grown to 25, all of whom are Republicans except for New Hampshire's Gov. Maggie Hassan.