Governor Rick Snyder stresses that he’s only pausing, not ending, plans to welcome refugees from Syria and other Middle East countries to Michigan.
Governor Snyder has a very pro-immigration record, and says there are humanitarian and practical reasons for Michigan to welcome refugees. But he says the terrorist attacks last week in Paris and Beirut demand an extra dose of caution:
“It’s important that there are people in need across the world, and that we’re open to those folk. We just want to make sure that we’re following the best practices and keeping our country safe.”
The governor is clarifying his position after releasing a statement over the weekend that he is suspending efforts to bring more Syrian refugees to Michigan. But the governor says he always intended to resume planning for more refugees after giving the US Department of Homeland Security time to review its procedures.
“Most people are not terrorists, and we need to be thoughtful about helping people around the world,” he says. “This is just to be prudent, to make sure some terrorist element is not entering our country.”
The Michigan Catholic Conference released a statement from CEO Paul Long expressing hope that the “pause” will not be lengthy:
“Going forward, once the Governor receives the safety reassurances from Homeland Security he feels are necessary, we expect that Michigan will continue to be a welcoming place. The Catholic Church in Michigan, through its vast network of human service agencies, stands ready and is eager to assist incoming refugees and the most vulnerable who are in desperate need of assistance.”
It’s not clear what the practical effect of the governor’s decision might be. It will not stop or delay the resettlement in Michigan of 20 or so Syrian refugees slated to arrive very soon. The relocation process is already lengthy – the vetting process to get a visa can take a year or two to get a visa. And the governor’s wish to bring in more refugees is still in the planning and discussion stage.
The Obama administration is looking to re-locate 10 thousand refugees from Syria in the coming year, and the governor still says Michigan can be a new home for many of them.