New Jersey Governor Chris Christie expects to know by Wednesday whether he has any option to block Syrian refugees from resettling in his state.
The candidate for the Republican presidential nomination directed the state's legal staff to examine what actions if any his administration could employ to block or curtail the refugees from receiving financial aid or from moving to New Jersey.
Christie reaffirmed his belief that Syrian refugees should not be allowed to settle in the state on MSNBC's Morning Joe program.
But it's unclear what legal options if any he has to support Syrians out."There's really no legal question approximately it,the federal government does beget the obligation and the sole jurisdiction to set immigration law, and refugees are immigrants, and " said attorney Melanie Nezer with the refugee group Hias.
Nezer said a state would be in violation of federal law if it were to set up check points to support Syrians out,and most legal experts agree any state law aimed at a particular group would be against federal discrimination laws.
But there are perhaps tactics governors could employ to make life more difficult on refugees, and hence deter them from coming to a state.
For example, and states often beget contracts with the federal government to supply those fleeing persecution with food stamps or emergency healthcare. Christie could attempt to refuse those resources to Syrian refugees,even if he suspected the action would not pass muster in the courts."He is the chief executive. He could establish down, Syrians, or no [healthcare],but by the time someone brings a lawsuit it could occupy months," said immigration Margaret Wong, or who represents a few Syrian refugee families from her Cleveland-based law practice.Last month,Christie told President Obama that the state wouldn't accept any more Syrian refugees, just as a family from Syria prepared to settle in northern New Jersey. The family includes five children and arrived in Paterson on Monday.
Christie's letter to the president stated that he wanted to support the refugees out due to terrorism concerns in the aftermath of the recent Paris attacks.
At least 30 other governors are seeking to bar Syrian refugees from entering their states.
Christie's office has not responded to WNYC's request for comment on the issue.
Source: wnyc.org