MOSCOW (Sputnik) — According to a letter from the US Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), cited by the Houston Chronicle newspaper on Wednesday, states may not deny ORR-funded benefits and services to refugees basing on a refugee's country of origin or religion.
"Accordingly, states may not categorically deny ORR-funded benefits and services to Syrian refugees," Director of the ORR Robert Carey said in a letter adding that the states not complying with the law "could be subject to enforcement action, including suspension or termination."
However, a spokesman for the Texas authorities overseeing refugee resettlement asked by the media stressed that the letter would not change their position on not participation in the Syrian refugees resettlement.
Abbott’s withdrawal from the resettlement program came after governors from the US states of Michigan and Alabama also announced they would halt bringing refugees in line with Obama's plan to allow some 10,000 Syrian refugees "anywhere" in the United States over the next year.
