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Snyder can't legally refuse refugees, but he probably won't roll out the welcome mat

Kate Wells
/
Michigan Radio

When Gov. Rick Synder's office released a statement asking the Department of Homeland Security to review the vetting process for Syrian refugees seeking asylum in the United States after the terrorist attacks in Paris, the reaction was swift.

Soon dozens of governors declared their opposition or support of settling Syrian refugees in their respective states. 

However, Detroit Free Press Capitol Hill reporter Todd Spangler tells Stateside host Cynthia Canty that state governors have no legal say when it comes to accepting refugees. 

Spangler also notes that Snyder, who has a record of being very enthusiastic about settling Syrian refugees in Michigan, never said he wanted to stop all refugees from coming in. Rather, the governor, as Spangler explains, "suspended his active encouragement" for Syrian refugees to make Michigan their home. 

In the past two years, 200 Syrian refugees have come to Michigan, with most  living in the Oakland County city of Troy. 

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