In response to the horrific events in Paris, Governor Haslam and dozens of other governors have announced that they oppose — and in some cases will refuse — the resettlement of Syrian refugees to their states. These statements are completely at odds with the fundamental American value of protecting those seeking safety from war and persecution, scapegoating refugees for the terror they are fleeing. But beyond the fear mongering and the rejection of core American values, these governors’ proposed policies can’t stand as a matter of the law: They are patently unconstitutional.
To read ACLU-TN’s work to oppose these unconstitutional policy proposals and to explore resources and news articles about Syrian refugee resettlement, click here.