Caitlin Tan
ctan@uwyo.edu
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead announced in a letter to the president yesterday the state will stand in solidarity with 30 other governors opposing the entrance of Syrian refugees into their state’s borders.
In light of the Paris attacks, Mead said President Barack Obama’s plan to allow 10,000 refugees seeking asylum into the country should be halted until further security is implemented.
“No state should have to endure the threat of terrorists entering our borders,” Mead said in a press release. “The President needs to make certain an absolutely thorough vetting system is in place that will not allow terrorists from Syria or any other part of the world into our country.”
David Bush, Mead’s communication director, said the federal government cannot place refugees within Wyoming, as it is the only state that does not actively participate in the federal refugee resettlement program.
“It seemed quite strange he would even want to comment on a program that our state doesn’t participate in,” Suzan Pritchett, UW college of law assistant professor and director of the International Human Rights Clinic, said.
Mead took a stance because refugees can eventually trickle into Wyoming, Bush said.
“He calls them ‘secondary refugees,’” Bush said.
He explained this is where a refugee is placed in any of the 49 states operating under the federal refugee resettlement program, but then chooses to move elsewhere to places such as Wyoming.
“Although we don’t have our own program we want to make sure folks coming in are safe and not doing any harm,” Bush said.
Pritchett noted the lines are being blurred between refugees and terrorists post-attacks in Paris. She said presidential candidates have discussed refugee-vetting systems based on nationality or religion, which she added is counterproductive to the spirit of refugee protection.
“I do think that the conflation of Syrians with the tragedy in Paris is a little bit misplaced to the extent that there is a difference between refugees and Paris,” Pritchett said, “and this one incident should not be used as a scapegoat to thwart the U.S. role in taking in people from persecution.”
Bush said the majority of Wyomingites calling into Mead’s office this week are protesting refugees’ entrance into the state, which helped spur Mead’s attention to the matter.
Pritchett said it is important to note refugees undergo thorough background checks – more so than tourists or international students.
“I do think that there is an overreaction because they seem to be confusing refugees with Paris – I think that is an entire over inclusive statement,” Pritchett said.
Going forward, Pritchett said now is a crucial time to discuss Wyoming adopting a refugee resettlement program.
However, Bush said although Mead expressed interest in a program in 2013, the governor is not interested in doing so at this time.
Obama held a conference call with Mead and the 30 other governors opposing the U.S. Syrian refugee plan, Bush said. The point of discussion surrounded what the country should do going forward, being Obama still wants to continue with the original plan of admitting 10,000 refugees into the country, Bush said.
Adam Croft, director of Better Wyoming, said Wyoming’s greatest weakness is economic diversity and accepting refugees can only help the state. He compared the situation to the Japanese internment camps at Heart Mountain.
“You’d think the state would learn from history, rather than repeating mistakes in the past,” Croft said. “We in Wyoming have a duty to help people whenever we have the opportunity to.”
Further details on the governor’s conversation with Obama will be released in coming days and hopefully with an action plan, Bush said, as Mead does not support Obama’s plan going forward.
“In light of the horrific terrorist attacks a few days ago in Paris,” Mead wrote in a letter to Obama, “I ask you to halt the refugee process until it provides the security promised to and demanded by all Wyoming and United States citizens.”
*Full disclosure: Adam Croft was formerly the Branding Iron news editor for the 2014-15 school year.
