SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner says his moratorium attempting to block Syrian refugees from resettling in Illinois is simply a request for the Obama administration to “take a deep breath” and tighten the review process to make sure Washington shares necessary information with the states.
Refugee-resettlement groups say Rauner has no authority to stop incoming Syrians. They say U.S. screening is exacting and there’s very little chance a terrorist will sneak through.
An Associated Press analysis of state records shows that since 2012, the federal government has allocated $55 million to Illinois for refugee services. The state has spent 60 percent of it.
The state Department of Human Services says 169 Syrians have settled in Illinois since 2010.