California Gov. Jerry Brown says he will work closely with President Barack Obama to ensure any Syrian refugees coming to California are "fully vetted in a sophisticated and utterly reliable way.''
In an emailed statement, the Democratic governor says the state can help uphold America's traditional role as a place of asylum while also protecting Californians.
“I intend to work closely with the President so that he can both uphold America’s traditional role as a place of asylum, but also ensure that anyone seeking refuge in America is fully vetted in a sophisticated and utterly reliable way," Brown said. "You can be sure that we will do everything in our power to protect the people of our state.”
More than a dozen U.S. governors are threatening to halt efforts to allow Syrian refugees into their states in the aftermath of the coordinated attacks in Paris. An immigration expert says states have no legal authority to reject refugees.
The governors are responding to heightened concerns that terrorists might use the refugees as cover to sneak across borders.
The Refugee Processing Center says 218 Syrian refugees have arrived in California this year.
All of CA is saddened by today’s wanton and brutal attack in Paris. Our prayers are with the victims’ families and all the people of France. — Jerry Brown (@JerryBrownGov) November 14, 2015
