As the investigation into the Paris attacks continues, the politics are heating up stateside. Now, Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin is criticizing several other governors — mostly Republican — who are calling for a temporary halt to acceptance of Syrian refugees.
Vermont’s Democratic governor said Monday that his colleagues across the nation who won't allow Syrian refugees into their states are "stomping on the qualities that make America great." He added Syrians are fleeing horrific violence and war and "we should be asking… how can we help."
He said he has faith in an extensive screening process place for refugees. That puts him at odds with New Hampshire’s Maggie Hassan, a Democrat also running for U.S. Senate, and Massachusetts Republican Charlie Baker.
Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program Director Amila Merdzanovic is pleased that the governor and the president are continuing to support refugee resettlement. “The governor reminded us that the U.S. is a world leader in providing protection to people who are in need and these are the American values.”
Burlington City Councilor and state representative Republican Kurt Wright says in light of Paris and the fact that ISIS appears to have infiltrated the refugee process, the safety and security of the U.S. must come first. “The governor would say that the vetting process is a good one. But there are many who actually would differ with that, including the director of Homeland Security. So at a time when we know ISIS wants to get over here and commit some of these barbaric atrocities, I think we have got to be very careful who we’re letting in here. We’re compassionate but we also need to be compassionate for the safety and security of our residents and the country.”
Former Vermont Governor Jim Douglas says it’s OK to pause to ensure immigration policies are adequate. “A lot of Americans including many Vermonters are concerned about the security of our homeland based on the horrific attacks in Paris and Beirut recently. They want to be sure that their families and communities are safe. At the same time Vermont has always been a welcoming place. But it’s certainly fair for governors to express their concern. We’ve got two states that border Vermont whose governors have indicated they have an unwillingness to allow Syrian refugees to come in. So we need to be a part of this discussion.”
Islamic Society of Vermont Imam Islam Hassam says Syrians have been suffering for years and what happened in Paris has nothing to do with the refugee crisis. He says Governor Shumlin is making a wise decision. “The Syrian refugees have been suffering from the war. Their houses were demolished. Their children, not a single family, I think, they have a child who’s dead or a daughter or a parent or a grandparent someone who was lost in the war. And they fled and they left their country and they left this whole crisis and they went to seek refuge in a safe place. I think closing the door on them is not something good. No matter where they are going to be located it doesn’t matter as long as they are in a safe place and a better environment.”
There are currently no Syrian refugees in Vermont, but there are plans for some to come this year.
