Skip to main content
Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama move to stop accepting Syrian refugees

Migrants wait to register with the police at the refugee center in the southern Serbian town of Presevo, Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Refugees fleeing war by the tens of thousands fear the Paris attacks could prompt Europe to close its doors, especially after police said a Syrian passport found next to one attacker’s body suggested its owner passed through Greece into the European Union and on through Macedonia and Serbia last month. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
Migrants wait to register with the police at the refugee center in the southern Serbian town of Presevo, Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Refugees fleeing war by the tens of thousands fear the Paris attacks could prompt Europe to close its doors, especially after police said a Syrian passport found next to one attacker’s body suggested its owner passed through Greece into the European Union and on through Macedonia and Serbia last month. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Migrants wait to register with the police at the refugee center in the southern Serbian town of Presevo, Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Refugees fleeing war by the tens of thousands fear the Paris attacks could prompt Europe to close its doors, especially after police said a Syrian passport found next to one attacker’s body suggested its owner passed through Greece into the European Union and on through Macedonia and Serbia last month. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

By Andy Sher 15 min read

Read more

* Sohn: Religion is a poor litmus test for security or compassion * Experts say states lack legal authority to block refugees * Group says Haslam, state lawmakers on ‘wrong side of history’ regarding Syrian refugees * Alabama Gov. Bentley directs state agencies to resist Syrian refugee relocation* Wary governors halt, question plan to accept Syrian refugees

photo Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 10/15/15. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal speaks to media after a ceremonial ground breaking on the new Vanguard site in Trenton announcing that the Semi-trailer manufacturing plant is bringing 400 jobs to Dade County.
photo Inside the Tennessee Welcome Center on Interstate 75, Governor Bill Haslam speaks about possible solutions for the Interstate 75/I-24 junction project as one of the transportation needs for our area.
photo Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announces a state settlement with BP for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Thursday, July 2, 2015, at the Capitol building in Montgomery, Ala.

NASHVILLE – Political shock waves rippled across the South on Monday as Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal declared he will no longer accept Syrian refugees in his state while Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is asking the federal government to suspend their placements here.

“In light of the terror attacks in Paris, I’ve issued an executive order directing state agency heads to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Georgia,” Deal, a Republican, said in a news release.

Moreover, Deal called on the Obama administration to confirm the backgrounds of 59 Syrian refugees recently resettled in his state to ensure they do not pose a security threat.

“Until the federal government and Congress conduct a thorough review of current screening procedures and background checks, we will take every measure available to us at the state level to safeguard the safety of Georgians,” Deal said.