In the wake of Friday's terror attacks in Paris,
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is joining other Republican governors in Alabama and Michigan to block refugees from being place in the state. Ducey is going further than those other governors, who want to only block Syrian refugees; Ducey wants to block refugees from anywhere in the world, according to this statement from his office today:
Given the horrifying events in Paris last week, I am calling for an immediate halt in the placement of any new refugees in Arizona. As governor, I am invoking our state’s right under 8 USC, Section 1522 (a), to receive immediate consultation by federal authorities per the United States Refugee Act, and that the federal government take into account the concerns and recommendations of the state of Arizona as they are required to under federal law, in our efforts to keep our homeland safe. I also call on Congress and the President to immediately amend federal law to provide states greater oversight and authority in the administration of the placement of refugees. These acts serve as a reminder that the world remains at war with radical Islamic terrorists. Our national leaders must react with the urgency and leadership that every American expects to protect our citizens.
Update: Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik blasted Ducey’s proposal.
“It’s nice of him to pander to the jingoistic fringe but it shows that he’s out of touch with the reality of what we’re dealing with in Tucson,” Kozachik said.
Kozachik said he’s still seeing many unaccompanied minors and families fleeing gang violence in Central America.
“We’re not in a position to close our borders to these kids,” Kozachik said.
Kozachik said sending the kids back to their home countries is a lousy option.
“Send them back to what?” he asked. “Send them back to conditions of gang violence and young girls being gang-raped by the cartels in Guatemala? That’s a totally ignorant position to take and totally insensitive to the needs of these kids and these families.”