Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner says the city will welcome Syrian refugees despite security concerns prompted by the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. Miner says she has been assured by the White House that the screening process is thorough and detailed, and she’s confident these refugees will be vetted properly, and no one dangerous will make it to American shores.
“In continuing to talk to the White House, they have continued to share with us, that this scrutiny and the screening process happens at a very high level, and is very detailed,” said Miner. “It’s a lengthy time consuming process. It’s necessary and it’s working.”
Miner initially commended President Barack Obama’s decision to allow 10,000 refugees from the war torn country last September. The issue has become more politically charged since the Paris attacks, with many governors and lawmakers, mostly Republican, concerned that terrorists will slip into the U.S. as part of the flow of refugees.
"It’s understandable that in the face of such unspeakable violence, that people’s natural reaction is, ‘we don’t want that here,’” said Miner. "But by reacting to the refugees, you’re reacting against the wrong group of people.”
Local refugee resettlement organizations say between 60 and 75 Syrian refugees could come to Syracuse in the next several years.
