Obama tells US officials they CANNOT block Syrian refugees from settling in states

BARACK Obama has told US state officials their states do not have the authority to refuse to accept Syrian refugees.

By Jake Burman

PUBLISHED: 06:28, Thu, Nov 26, 2015 | UPDATED: 06:47, Thu, Nov 26, 2015

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Obama's administration penned a letter to governors telling them refusal would risk breaking the law

The US president’s administration told state resettlement officials states cannot deny benefits and services to refugees based on their country of origin or religious affiliation.

In a letter addressed to state officials, the Office of Refugee Resettlement warned states they will be breaking the law and could faceenforcement action, including suspension or termination of the nationally funded program.

The letter - signed by the director of the federal resettlement office Robert Carey - came after more than two dozen governors vowed to block efforts to resettle Syrian refugees in their states following the terrorist attacks in Paris.

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