Gov. Nixon not refusing Syrian refugees in Missouri

More than a dozen governors across the country said they will not accept Syrian refugees Monday.

Right now, Missouri is not one of those states.

This comes three days after terror attacks in Paris killed more than 130 people. One of the suspects had a Syrian passport.

Gov. Nixon released a statement Monday afternoon saying it is the responsibility of federal officials to implement a strong screening process for incoming refugees. But he did not join the governors refusing Syrian refugees. Nearly 20 Republican state senators sent a letter urging the Governor to do so Monday.

Gov. Greg Abbot, (R)-Texas, was one of the first governors to say he would not accept the refugees.

“When we see the dangers caused by Syrian refugees in Paris, it is imperative that Texas do everything we can to ensure that we don’t have a Syrian refugee sneak in to the state of Texas who can pose a similar terroristic danger,” Abbot said.

Although Gov. Nixon has not refused the refugees in Missouri, local refugee and immigration services said they do not believe the state will resettle refugees from Syria anytime soon.

“One of the reasons also for the delay is the extensive vetting and background check on any refugee that has settles in the United States,” Michael Van Gundy, the Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri said.

Some other states have an agreement with the federal government to expedite the process in light of the current emergency situation, but Missouri does not.

“We’ve been asked to increase our numbers of those refugees for the coming year,” Van Gundy said. “But they will not be coming from Syria because again the extent of the process.”

Still, state leaders are asking Gov. Nixon to halt the process entirely.

“I urge you to refuse to accept any of the Syrian refugees being located to Missouri until federal government ensures a proper vetting process is in place,” Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R) said in a letter to the Governor.

“Now is not the time to accept Syrian refugees in the United States absent a proper vetting system,” U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, (R)-MO, said.

But the process is extensive, according to Van Gundy.

“It’s probably the most thorough background check of anything that is done for anybody,” Van Gundy said. “And again, that’s why it takes months and years many times to get people certified to come.”

The U.S. has accepted nearly 2,000 Syrian refugees since 2011. Sunday, Pres. Obama said he still plans to accept 10,000 into the country in 2016.

Right now, it is still unclear if the governors can override the federal government to refuse the refugees.