GOP governors in Las Vegas criticize plan to accept Syrian refugees

By Kyle Roerink

Published Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 | 4:27 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015 | 4:55 p.m.

A panel of Republican governors in Las Vegas criticized President Barack Obama’s plan to take in Syrian refugees, saying they didn’t know enough about how the federal government vets refugees from the war-torn country.

“We cannot guarantee that every refugee coming into the U.S. is a refugee and not a terrorist,” New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said today in front of 300 people at the Encore for a meeting of the Republican Governors Association.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said there was no intelligence on Syrian refugees, pointing to a report in which White House officials said screening refugees would be challenging.

“The real answer is this: We should be sending in help to Syria,” she said. “Let’s make sure we are fighting on their soil.”

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, in a letter to Obama released late Monday, asked the White House to review its intake process and that no additional Syrian refugees be admitted to Nevada until that review had been completed.

Sandoval has since has asked state Attorney General Adam Laxalt for an opinion “that details the governor’s authority regarding relocation and resettlement processes and the implications of any actions the state might take.”

Fearing ISIS terrorists will slip into the country, GOP politicians in Nevada and nationwide have called for blocking Syrian refugees from entering the country. President Barack Obama has said the U.S. will take in up to 10,000 Syrian refugees this year.

The concern follows the ISIS-led terrorist attacks in Paris last week that killed at least 129 people.

The fear of terrorists posing as refugees arose on Wednesday in Honduras. Officials arrested Syrians with fake Greek passports with plans to enter the U.S. through the Central American country.

Leaders in at least 34 states oppose resettlement efforts, though states do not have the authority to refuse refugees.

But governors in Texas, Indiana and Louisiana have sent letters to the president saying they would not accept Syrian refugees.

The gubernatorial panel — which included executives from Florida, Maryland, Arizona and other states — said it is unfair to be cast them as uncompassionate.

“Sept. 11 is too close in our memory,” Haley said. “[Republicans] will continue to be loud and educate. This is something that puts everybody at risk.”

Sun reporter Cy Ryan contributed to this report.