Georgia Governor Nathan Deal has rescinded his executive order prohibiting State agencies from assisting in the resettlement of Syrian refugees.
Deal rescinded his order today based on the official opinion of State Attorney General Sam Olens.
The governor asked Olens to review his order barring refugees from Georgia based on security concerns. While Olens wrote in his opinion that he shared the governor’s concerns, he affirmed the federal government’s legal authority to decide where to place refugees.
“As a matter of federal law, and particularly constitutional Supremacy Clause principles of preemption,” Olens wrote, “the states do not have any authority to unilaterally interfere in congressionally authorized federal immigration programs.”
In addition, Olens’ opinion stated Georgia must provide federally funded benefits to all refugees under the terms of the Refugee Resettlement Program, “without regard to race, religion, nationality, sex or political opinion.”
Gov. Deal issued his order barring Syrian refugees from Georgia on November 16, three days after terrorists killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more in coordinated attacks on Paris. At least one of the terror suspects was believed to have entered Europe by way of Syria.
In all, 31 governors – 30 Republicans and 1 Democrat – issued similar orders in the wake of the Paris attacks.
