Gov. Charlie Baker: No Syrian Refugees in Massachusetts—For Now
Photo via AP
Update: Monday, 3:51 p.m.
Mayor Marty Walsh released the following statement:
As a city and as a country it is not our custom to turn our backs on people who are in need and who are innocent. We have yet to receive guidelines from the federal or state government on how they will move forward, however should we be told that Boston is accepting refugees, we will work with our partners at the federal, state and local levels to ensure the safety of Boston residents.
Gov. Charlie Baker, meanwhile, received stiff criticism from representatives of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition at their annual Thanksgiving luncheon Monday afternoon.
Previously:
Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are opposed to allowing Syrian refugees into Massachusetts following last week’s terrorist attack on Paris until the federal government puts a better system in place, per reports.
.@CharlieBakerMA:no Syrian refugees in MA until he learns more from Feds @marty_walsh agrees #WCVB #mapoli
— Janet Wu (@WuWCVB) November 16, 2015
Gov. Says no Syrian immigrants for now
— Bill Shields (@ShieldsWBZ) November 16, 2015
Baker is waiting for the feds to instate a “stricter screening process,” reports Antonio Caban of the State House News Service.
Just in: Gov.Baker against bringing in Syrian refugees until federal govt. puts a stricter screening process in place #mapoli
— Antonio Caban (@Antonio_Caban) November 16, 2015
Baker says he would have to know a lot more about what the fed plan looks like, how it would be implemented and executed before deciding
— Antonio Caban (@Antonio_Caban) November 16, 2015
Baker will hold press availability this afternoon. Governors in Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, and Michigan have also announced their refusal to admit Syrian refugees.
In September, Baker came out in favor of allowing Syrian refugees into Massachusetts, telling WCVB: “I spend every day trying to figure out how we do the best we possibly can for the people who are here. I think it would be a step back for the United States not to be part of this. This is a global crisis and one of those moments when I think it is important that the U.S. (is) part of the solution.”
