Mississippi’s Phil Bryant is one of more than a dozen governors to say they want to stop the federal government from re-settling any refugees from Syria in their states.
The governors' statements follow news that a Syrian passport was found near the body of one of the perpetrators of Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris.
Governor Bryant posted a statement on his Facebook page Monday saying he would do “everything humanly possible to stop any plans from the Obama administration to put Syrian refugees in Mississippi."
Catholic Charities of Jackson said in a statement online it does not have an arrangment at this time to accept refugees from Syria.
Catholic Social and Community Services in Biloxi said in a statement it resettles an average of 12 refugees a year from different countries. It says it's in favor of a "thorough vetting process" but notes that helping refugees is part of the Church's mission.
Resettlement director Magda Leleaux says they have not heard of any plans to resettle refugees from Syria in Mississippi. She says, she's sympathetic that people may have security concerns, but also called for understanding about the refugees’ plight.
"We cannot turn our backs on, for example, a war-ravaged family, a widow, or a single mother and her baby," she says. "That is not right, because Jesus was also a refugee. We just have to follow that as good Christians."
Catholic Charities in Biloxi noted refugees from Syria are both Christian and Muslim, and nearly 40 percent are children.
