DETROIT (AP) – 
Gov. Rick Snyder said in a statement Sunday that the state is postponing efforts to accept refugees until federal officials fully review security clearances and procedures. He added that Michigan is “proud of our rich history of immigration” but that Michigan’s “first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”
Tag Archives: syria
In the lights of Paris Attacks, Alabama Governor: I will oppose any attempt to relocate Syrian refugees to Alabama through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
November 16, 2015
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has announced he is refusing Syrian refugees relocating to his state.
In a news release Sunday Bentley said, “After full consideration of this weekend’s attacks of terror on innocent citizens in Paris, I will oppose any attempt to relocate Syrian refugees to Alabama through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. As your Governor, I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way.”
According to the release Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is working diligently with federal agencies to monitor any possible threats. To date there has been no credible intelligence of terror threats in Alabama.
http://www.miamiherald.com/latest-news/article44975574.html
Protesters call for additional screenings for refugees
Boise – Two activist groups squared off in downtown Boise today over the federal refugee program. It’s a topic that’s generated quite a bit of debate in the magic valley… As a group fights to shut down the refugee center at the college of Southern Idaho. More than one hundred citizen activists gathered today in Boise to protest the federal refugee program.
The group…Three percent of Idaho…Stands for conservative protections of the constitution and community safety. Their protest — centered on the college of southern Idaho’s refugee program — comes off statements from federal agency leaders.
FBI director James Comey said they were ready to screen additional refugees from Syria…But gaps exist in the system.
Refugee bodies wash up on Lesbos including children after drowning off Greece
A toddler migrant is plucked from the water by a volunteer lifeguard after a boat carrying around 150 refugees started to sink in the Aegean sea
Human tragedy: The body of a child lies on a beach on the Greek island of Lesbos, after 22 people – including nine children and four babies – drowned when their boat sank during the perilous crossing
Saviour: A lifeguard rescues a child as a boat with refugees and migrants sunk, while crossing the Aegean sea from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos
Horrific: Most of the migrant vessels making the dangerous journey are in bad condition and are heavily overcrowded
Despair: One man struggles to stay on board the boat as the rough seas force the passengers to take evasive action
Hanging in there: One desperate refugee woman hangs on a rope having escaped the half-sunken catamaran carrying around 150 refugees
Sorrow: One young boy screams and cries in terror as the boat wildly rocks in the strong currents off the coast of Lesbos
Too young: The body of a young boy, who drowned while making the perilous crossing from Turkey, lies on a beach on the Greek island of Lesbos. It was one of the worst accidents in Greek waters since the mass migrant flows started after the war in Syria
Sinking ship: An overcrowded refugee boat begins to sink off the Greek island of Lesbos after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey
Istanbul has more Syrian refugees than all of Europe says David Miliband | World news | The Guardian
International Rescue Committee head David Miliband at a refugee camp for Syrians on the Greek island of Lesbos. Photograph: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters
Istanbul has more Syrian refugees than all of Europe says David Miliband | World news | The Guardian.
These Groups Have An Idea To Help Syrian Refugees: Let People Sponsor Them
WASHINGTON — Some opponents to taking in more Syrian refugees argue it’s simply too expensive. Refugees need significant help with housing, food, transportation, education and more when they get here, and they contend that the United States can’t afford to help more people.
But what if outside groups — community or religious organizations, cities, companies or even individuals — foot the costs instead? Continue reading…
A paramilitary police officer carries the lifeless body of Alan Kurdi, 3, after a number of migrants died and a smaller number were reported missing after boats carrying them to the Greek island of Kos capsized.
Refugee crisis: Story of two Syrian men who died trying to swim to England
A year ago, two Syrian refugees bought identical wetsuits from a Calais shop, walked to the beach and disappeared.
When their remains were washed up 500 miles apart, police in the Netherlands and Norway were at a loss to identify them.
No missing persons’ reports had been filed, they had no police records, their DNA was not on file. As Anders Fjellberg put it, they were an “invisible life heading for a nameless grave”.
The reporter, from Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, worked with photographer Tomm Christiansen to… more
Syrian refugees are traveling across the Arctic Circle to Europe
A family of Syrian refugees at the Polar Light Hotel in Nikel, Russia. October 2015. (Alessandro Iovino)
There’s a new way into Europe. Under mounting pressure at home, faced with likely tragedy on the Mediterranean, and turned away by border police in eastern Europe, some Syrians are forging an unlikely path across the Arctic Circle.
http://qz.com/530042/syrian-refugees-are-traveling-across-the-arctic-circle-to-europe/
Screenshot of the route Syrian refugees are taking to Europe.
Syria’s Refugee Crisis Is About To Get Worse As People Flee Russia’s Bombing
ISTANBUL — Aid workers are propping up tents, preparing provisions and deploying medical staff as they brace for a new wave of displaced Syrians escaping renewed fighting in and around the country’s commercial hub, Aleppo.
Plumes of smoke rise from purported Russian airstrikes hitting rebel positions south of Aleppo. youtube.com / Via YouTube
The contested city is the focus of an intense military campaign. Russian warplanes… more
Republicans to Obama “Syrian refugees are potential terrorists”
Chart showing numberof Syrian refugges taken by the U.S. between 2011-2015 and the plan to take 10,000 by 2016
President Obama has agreed to raise the number of Syrian refugees admitted to at least 10,000 in the fiscal year beginning in October from fewer than 2,000 this year.
Aid groups called the administration’s action a token one given the size of the American economy and population, while a number of Republicans warned that Mr. Obama was allowing in potential terrorists. “Our enemy now is Islamic terrorism, and these people are coming from a country filled with Islamic terrorists,” said Representative Peter T. King, Republican of New York. “We don’t want another Boston Marathon bombing situation.”
Obama Increases Number of Syrian Refugees for U.S. Resettlement to 10,000