Border Not Closed: Snyder Clarifies Refugee Situation

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Governor Snyder is clarifying his stance on allowing Syrian refugees into the state. On Sunday, Snyder said he was temporarily halting efforts to relocate refugees into the state pending a review by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the procedures for allowing them into the country. He also said yesterday that the borders aren’t being closed.

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The governor now says the 20 refugees who have already been relocated to Michigan, or who are on their way, will not be turned back by state officials and his administration is only putting on hold “efforts to accept new refugees.” Snyder says the attacks in Paris raise new questions.

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The vetting process by the federal government for the refugees takes longer than a year according to Snyder. The governor’s office notes no state has the authority to close its borders to refugees, and where they go is up to the federal government.