NASHVILLE -- The Tennessee ACLU and a state-based advocacy group for refugees are denouncing as "reprehensible" and "dangerous" a call by state House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada to round up Syrian refugees here, ship them elsewhere and use the state National Guard to block federal officials from re-locating any more here.
Stephanie Teatro, co-executive director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, charged today that as other Tennessee "opportunistic politicians" have triggered a "xenophobic race to the bottom," Casada "has now taken this dangerous rhetoric to a new low."
But the GOP Caucus chairman showed no signs of walking back his comments this afternoon as he spoke to reporters as Republicans and Democrats nationwide come to verbal blows over the self-described Islamic State's terror attacks last week in Paris.
Casada noted the Islamic State itself says it is sending its "soldiers" into Europe and the U.S. And he said FBI Director James Comey has acknowledged the U.S.'s screening process on refugees isn't perfect.
Asked whether some of what he is calling for violates protections in the U.S. Constitution, Casada said "you have to ask yourself, which is greater -- life or due process?" Casada said.
Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, is center in this file photo.He later added: "I'm just sounding the alarm. Just think of me as Paul Revere."
And the chairman, who is considering pushing for a special legislative session, charged that the groups as well as Democrats are "more concerned about being politically correct."
Moreover, Casada contended, "innocent blood" will be on the hands of the TN-ACLU and the immigrant and refugee group as well as Democrats if any Islamic State militants have slipped in among refugees.
In their own news conference a short while later, state House Democrats this afternoon denounced Casada's comments with Rep. Jason Powell, D-Nashville, calling the GOP lawmaker's effort to "round up" Syrian refugees "preposterous" and "repulsive to me as an American" and "irresponsible" as an elected official.
Democrats said state and federal officials should boost background screening efforts. And they challenged Republican Gov. Bill Haslam, who has asked President Barack Obama to discontinue sending any additional Syrian refugees to Tennessee, and GOP colleagues to use part of the state's projected $1 billion surplus to beef up the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security and other agencies.