Governor Bentley Addresses Suing Feds Over Refugees
Governor Robert Bentley announced Thursday he has filed a lawsuit against the federal government alleging authorities violated the Refugee Act of 1980. WBHM’s Esther Ciammachilli attended a press conference where Bentley talked about the suit.
Why is Governor Bentley Suing The Federal Government?
“Governor Bentley says he’s concerned about the existence of Syrian refugees in Alabama,” said Ciammachilli. Following Bentley’s executive order in November that forbids state agencies from accepting Syrian refugees, he wrote three letters to the White House demanding to know if the federal government had relocated any Syrian refugees to Alabama. If they have, Bentley says he wants information on these refugees.
According to the Refugee Act of 1980, the federal government is required to provide information to any states that will be accepting refugees.
“Since Bentley’s letters went unanswered, he says there’s no way of knowing if there are in fact any Syrian refugees in Alabama,” Ciammachilli said. “He feels the federal government, specifically the Obama Administration, the State Department and the Department of Health and Human Services, have violated the Refugee Act.”
Not The First Governor to Sue Over Refugees
Bentley’s actions aren’t unprecedented. Last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed a similar lawsuit claiming he wasn’t adequately consulted on the relocation of six Syrian refugees in his state. The federal government said they did communicate. Following that response, Texas withdrew its request that temporarily barred refugee relocation.
Ciammachilli says these lawsuits have some similarities.
“Both governors feel they did not receive adequate communication, or any communication in Bentley’s case, regarding the relocation of these refugees,” said Ciammachilli. “However, they’re different because the federal government said they did contact Texas, whereas Alabama allegedly received no such correspondence.”
What’s Next?
Ciammachilli says the U.S. State Department has the last word when it comes to the relocation of any refugees, including those from Syria. “However they are required to communicate with state governments about this process as per the Refugee Act of 1980,” said Ciammachilli.
At the Supreme Court, the case of the candidate who sued, even though he won
At issue was a suit by Rep. Michael Bost, R-Ill., challenging an Illinois regulation that allows ballots mailed in by Election Day to be counted for up to 14 days after polls close.
Israel and Hamas agree on the ‘first phase’ of Gaza ceasefire deal
The deal raises the possibility that the war may now be over, ending the bloodiest fighting ever between Israelis and Palestinians.
After Spain’s blackout, critics blamed renewable energy. It’s part of a bigger attack
When millions lost power in Spain and Portugal this spring, some were quick to blame too much solar and wind power. That wasn't the cause, but the misinformation had an impact.
‘Fairyland’ recalls a girl’s life with her poet father in pre-AIDS San Francisco
Alysia Abbott's memoir about growing up in 1970s San Francisco with her gay, single father, has been adapted into a film directed by Andrew Durham and produced by Sofia Coppola.
Los Angeles: Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion
Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.
What are your holiday shopping plans? NPR wants to hear from you
Is this the season of cutbacks or splurges? As we prepare to cover holiday shopping and deals, NPR wants to hear from you, whatever your plans may be.
