WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US government must stop resettling more Syrian refugees in the state of Maryland before ensuring they are not a public threat, Governor Larry Hogan said on Tuesday.
“Following the terrorist attacks on Paris just four days ago… I am now requesting that federal authorities cease any additional settlements of refugees from Syria in Maryland until the US government can provide appropriate assurances that refugees from Syria pose no threat to public safety,” Hogan stated.
In September, President Barack Obama pledged to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, but the Paris terrorist attacks have prompted at least 25 governors of US states to refuse allowing any Syrian refugees.
“As governor of Maryland, the safety and security of Marylanders remains my first priority,” he concluded.
Over the weekend, French police reported that a Syrian passport was found near one of the suicide bombers who attacked the Stade de France in Paris. Meanwhile, Serbian police arrested a man carrying a Syrian passport with identical information as that of a passport found near the terrorist in Paris.