Syrian family diverted to Connecticut after Indiana's rejection
INDIANAPOLIS -- A Syrian family has been diverted to Connecticut after Indiana officials objected to the refugees resettling in their state.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence ordered state agencies to halt resettlement activities after the deadly attacks in Paris. He and other governors say they want assurances that proper security measures are in place.
Indiana officials sent letters Tuesday to Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. and Catholic Charities Indianapolis saying plans to accept two Syrian families should be halted.
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Exodus Executive Director Carleen Miller says she doesn't believe the state has the power to stop the resettlements but didn't want the family to go through any additional "scrutiny or drama."
The family of three has been waiting since 2012 to be resettled in the U.S., and was scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis on Thursday.
Concerns about terrorists hiding among the flood of Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris terror attacks have more than a dozen governors around the country promising to close their states to any of the refugees.
President Barack Obama lashed out Wednesday at Republicans who insist on barring Syrian refugees from entering the U.S., deeming their words offensive and insisting "it needs to stop."
"Apparently they're scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America," Obama said, mocking GOP leaders for thinking they're tough. But he also remarked that their sentiments could be used against the U.S. by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants .
In Congress, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have urged at least a temporary halt in the resettlement of Syrians. Obama pointed out that he's been waiting for a year and a half for Congress to take up a new war powers resolution to address the ISIS threat, questioning their newfound haste to solve the purported threat of innocents fleeing war.