A federal judge on Wednesday rejected another request filed by the state of Texas asking for a temporary restraining order against nine Syrian refugees set to arrive in the state on Thursday.
The state on Wednesday sought to block refugees from Syria who will arrive on Thursday, claiming that the federal government did not properly consult with the state on the refugees’ arrival. In its brief, the state writes that the arrival of refugees poses a “substantial threat” to the state, arguing that the vetting process for refugees has significant gaps and terrorists will try to enter the U.S. through the refugee program.
In his order denying the state’s application, U.S. District Judge David Godbey wrote that the evidence presented by Texas was “largely speculative hearsay.”
The state of Texas last week filed a lawsuit against the federal government and nonprofit group International Rescue Committee in an attempt to block a Syrian refugee family that arrived on Monday. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission argued in the lawsuit that neither the federal government nor the IRC provided state officials with enough information about the refugees set to land in the state.
Before the family arrived, the state on Friday withdrew its temporary restraining order against that family but continues to pursue the case in court.
In a Wednesday statement supporting the state’s second attempt to block Syrian refugees from the state, Gov. Greg Abbott said he was concerned about the process to screen refugees.
“In light of alarming comments made by the House Homeland Security Committee Chairman and testimony by the Deputy Director of Homeland Security at the Texas Department of Public Safety, it is essential that a judge consider halting the Syrian refugee process – at least on a temporary basis – to ensure refugees coming to the United States will be vetted in a way that does not compromise the safety of Americans and Texans,” Abbott said in the statement.
A family of eight Syrian refugees will arrive in Houston on Thursday, as well as a 26-year-old Syrian woman joining her mother in the area, according to a brief filed last week by the Department of Justice.
