In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks more than 30 state governors have asked Congress to stop Syrian Refugees from resettling in the U.S. Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to tighten controls on refugees coming to the U.S. from Syria and Iraq. Local immigration attorney Elizabeth Ricci says American policy for accepting refugees is much tougher than it is for immigrants. The movements in Congress follow a request by some 30 Governors, including Florida’s Rick Scott—to stop federal funding for relocation efforts without extensive background checks. Meanwhile, mayors in many of those same states, say they welcome the refugees. The current conversation comes after initial reports that one of the Paris attackers had a Syrian passport. There are now suggestions that the document may have been a fake. Elizabeth Ricci is a Tallahassee-based immigration attorney who has dealt with complex cases. She explains the process for refugees, and whether the governors have legal standing.
Listen to the interview below:
