Some Senate Republicans Want ‘Pause’ of Syrian Resettlement

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — More than a dozen Senate Republicans are asking Washington Gov. Jay Inslee to ensure that Syrian refugees are properly vetted before the state agrees to accept them.

The letter from the 14 lawmakers on Wednesday says the state should pause potential resettlement efforts until more is known about the vetting process at the federal level.

Earlier this week, Inslee said the state would welcome Syrian refugees if the federal government ultimately decides the state will receive any of the 10,000 people that President Barack Obama's administration has pledged to resettle over the next year. At this point, it is unknown how many Syrian refugees could be resettled in the state. Inslee, who criticized other governors who have threatened to stop accepting refugees following last week's terror attacks in Paris, has noted that governors lack the authority to grant or deny entry for refugees.