NEW YORK (Sputnik) — The US state of New Jersey will not participate in the resettlement of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria, the state’s governor and presidential candidate Chris Christie wrote in a letter to President Barack Obama on Tuesday.
"Effective today, I am directing the New Jersey Department of Human Services not to participate in the resettlement of any Syrian refugees in the State of New Jersey," Christie said.
The governor explained, "I cannot allow New Jersey to participate in any program that will result in Syrian refugees — any one of whom could be connected to terrorism — being placed in our State."
Moreover, Christie urged President Obama to halt plans to allow Syrians to be resettled anywhere in the country, citing reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that the US government cannot conduct proper security checks on Syrian refugees.
The White House announced earlier this year the United States would accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016. On Monday, White House spokesperson Josh Earnest confirmed that Washington is committed to its original plan on Syrian refugees resettlement.
