Alabama Files Suit Against Federal Government

The State of Alabama is filing suit against the federal government. Governor Bentley claims the government failed to comply with the Refugee Act of 1980. The Bentley administration says the Obama Administration has yet to answer any questions from three letters requesting information on the Refugee Reception Program in Alabama.

The Refugee Act of 1980 requires the federal government to consult with states about the placement of refugees before they are placed within that state.

Bentley was the first governor to publically say he wouldn’t allow Syrian refugees into the states over fears some ISIS terrorists could be taking advantage of the refugee program to come into the United States. It came after the Nov. 13 Paris attacks. The lawsuit doesn’t specifically address Syrian refugees, but it follows the lead of Texas, which sued last month to try to block six Syrian refugees from settling in Dallas.

The federal government controls resettlement programs. Experts have said states have no authority to ban refugees.

http://governor.alabama.gov/assets/2016/01/1-Complaint-Ala-v.-USA-Refugee-Act-1.7.16.pdf