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Our governor, bless his darling heart and empty liberal head, has announced that banning Syrian refugees "is not something he's considered." The safety and welfare of the residents of the State aren't worth his time, you see; he's too busy worrying about the budget, or the natural gas pipeline ... or something.
However, it seems there's more to the story than the headline would indicate.
Unlike most states, the refugee state coordinator in Alaska does not work in the state government, said Robin Bronen, executive director for the Alaska Institute for Justice a former refugee coordinator. Here, Catholic Social Services works with national groups to place refugees, she said. A spokesman for Catholic Social Services issued this statement today in response to questions about potential Syrian refugees in Alaska:
"The U.S. refugee resettlement and asylum programs are lifesaving programs that provide a second chance in life to those in desperate need of safety. Welcoming those fleeing persecution is an American tradition and part of our values that have defined this country. These individuals, given the chance to reconstruct their lives here, eagerly contribute to the nation’s economic, political, and cultural strength. “
Security measures are intrinsic to the integrity of the refugee and asylum programs and we support strong, just, and secure programs. We support steps taken by the U.S. government to ensure a secure, effective, just, and humanitarian rescue of refugees and asylees. Refugees undergo thorough and rigorous security screenings prior to arriving to the United States. Asylum seekers also undergo rigorous background checks."
Never mind that Syria doesn't really exist as a political entity; not anymore. So there are no records on the refugees. The U.S. State Department has already said it can't conduct screenings on the refugees, because there are no backgrounds available.
Good thing we're relying on those, then.
We're so hosed.
