Governor Ricketts Joins Letter to President Obama on Syrian Refugee Resettlement Security Concerns

November 20, 2015 Leave a comment


Today, Governor Pete Ricketts sent a letter with 26 other governors calling for a review of security screening measures before resettling Syrian refugees in the United States.

 

A copy of the letter is attached and is excerpted below.

 

“As governors, we are charged with ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our citizens. In order to adequately fulfill this duty, we request that you immediately review the process by which you conduct background checks on all individuals applying for refugee status and address the gaps acknowledged by your director of the FBI.

 

“In the wake of this recent tragedy, and until we can ensure the citizens of our states that an exhaustive review of all security measures has been completed and the necessary changes have been implemented, we respectfully request that you suspend all plans to resettle additional Syrian refugees.”

The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States The White House Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

November 20, 2015

Our country has long served as a welcoming beacon to individuals and families who seek safety and refugee status within the borders of the United States. For years we have been proud to welcome refugees into our communities in their pursuit of a better life and future.

However, we are deeply concerned that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria may have exploited the generosity of the refugee system to carry out Friday’s terrorist attack in Paris. While the tragic event was a direct assault on the European Union’s refugee system, the potential for this situation to arise in the United States is escalated by information revealed by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey. In testimony before Congress, he admitted to certain inadequacies in the system that would prevent the thorough vetting of the 10,000 refugees your administration has pledged to admit into the United States.

As governors, we are charged with ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our citizens. In order to adequately fulfill this duty, we request that you immediately review the process by which you conduct background checks on all individuals applying for refugee status and address the gaps acknowledged by your director of the FBI.

In the wake of this recent tragedy, and until we can ensure the citizens of our states that an exhaustive review of all security measures has been completed and the necessary changes have

been implemented, we respectfully request that you suspend all plans to resettle additional Syrian refugees.

Sincerely,

Governor Robert Bentley Alabama

Governor Douglas A. Ducey Arizona

Governor Asa Hutchinson Arkansas

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter Idaho

Governor Rick Scott Florida

Governor Nathan Deal Georgia

Governor Bruce Rauner Illinois

Governor Terry E. Branstad Iowa

Governor Sam Brownback Kansas

Governor Bobby Jindal Louisiana

Governor Paul R. LePage Maine

Governor Pete Ricketts Nebraska

Governor Brian Sandoval Nevada

Governor Chris Christie New Jersey

Governor Susana Martinez New Mexico

Governor Pat McCrory North Carolina

Governor Jack Dalrymple North Dakota

Governor Nikki Haley South Carolina

Governor John R. Kasich Ohio

Governor Mary Fallin Oklahoma

Governor Greg Abbott Texas

Governor Dennis Daugaard South Dakota

Governor Bill Haslam Tennessee

 

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I am a graduate of Northeast Community College with a degree in journalism. I am married to Jeff Gilliland. We have two grown children, Justin and Whitney and four grandchildren, Grayce, Grayhm, Charli and Penelope. I will be covering Lyons, Decatur, Bancroft and Rosalie and am hoping to expand my horizons as time progresses!

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