Nov. 19--While Indiana moved ahead on Gov. Mike Pence's decision to keep additional Syrian refugees out of the state, Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration would not say how it is implementing his plan to halt resettlement.
An Indiana Family Social Services Administration official sent letters Tuesday to two organizations that help settle refugees saying the placement of two Syrian families had been suspended.
Rauner's office refused to say if Illinois has repealed any services to Syrian refugees. Instead, Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly issued a statement defending the freeze on Syrian refugees as "a reasonable and responsible step to take to ensure we maintain a balance between compassion for refugees and security for our citizens."
"The governor has been very clear -- we need to preserve our heritage as a state welcoming of refugees while addressing the all-too-real security concerns that continue to evolve every day," Kelly said.
Rauner is among 31 mostly Republican governors across the nation seeking to turn away the refugees following the Paris terrorist attacks. Authorities have suggested at least one attacker entered Europe amid the recent influx of Syrian migrants.
The governor is being urged to reverse his decision by refugee advocates and at least one Chicago City Council member. Ald. Edward Burke, 14th, introduced a nonbinding resolution Wednesday and said it's up to the federal government to make these decisions. The resolution passed on a voice vote without opposition.
"Perhaps (Rauner) should order the state police to cooperate with the federal agencies involved and ensure that the background checks are completed in a timely, effective professional way," Burke said. "But to say that these poor souls who are fleeing war and starvation shouldn't be allowed into Illinois flies in the face of what Chicago has stood for for generations."
It remains unclear whether states have any legal authority to block those already cleared to live in the U.S. But states can deny help usually provided to refugees, including health care, cash assistance and job training.
The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement directs federal funding to states, local resettlement agencies and not-for-profit agencies that help refugees transition to life in the U.S.
In Illinois, refugee and immigrant services are operated under the Department of Human Services. In 2013-2014, the most recent years for which data were available, the federal government gave Illinois about $7 million for cash and medical assistance, and another $2.1 million for refugee social services. Eight resettlement agencies received another $1.4 million in matching grants.
