gov. mike pence <u+2019>s plan to restrict the settlement of syrian refugees in indiana remains on hold following the decision of a federal appeals court, which called it discriminatory and based on <u+201c>nightmare speculation.<u+201d> the ruling by the seventh u.s. circuit court of appeals monday delayed implementation of mr. pence<u+2019>s directive pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by an indiana agency that helps resettle refugees in the state. mr. pence, the republican vice presidential nominee, is among a group of conservative governors who have tried to block or delay the arrival of refugees fleeing the war-torn arab country, arguing that islamic state terrorists could be hiding among them. <u+201c>no evidence of this belief has been presented, however,<u+201d> wrote judge richard posner for a unanimous three-judge panel. <u+201c>it is nightmare speculation.<u+201d> mr. pence has sought to limit the number of syrian refugees in indiana through state contracts with private resettlement agencies. indiana reimburses such agencies, using federal grants, for providing social services to resettled refugees. last year, donald trump<u+2019>s running mate forbade reimbursements for costs associated with syrian refugees. exodus refugee immigration inc., which expected to resettle 100 or more syrian refugees in indiana this year, sued mr. pence to block his plan . a federal district judge agreed in february to pause the plan for the duration of the lawsuit, ruling that exodus was likely to win its case alleging discrimination. indiana officials appealed the ruling to the chicago-based seventh circuit, which on monday<u+00a0>also predicted that exodus would prevail. anyone seeking refugee status in the u.s. must undergo multiple layers of screening by the federal government, following screening by a united nations office, a process that can take up to two years. judge posner acknowledged that syrian refugees pose specific concerns, because many were born elsewhere and moved to the country before its civil war, making them difficult to screen. as a condition of using federal money for resettlement, federal law requires states to service refugees regardless of race, religion, nationality or sex. lawyers for mr. pence said the policy of excluding syrian refugees stemmed from his concern for the public safety for indiana residents rather than any discriminatory intent. saying something isn<u+2019>t discrimination doesn<u+2019>t make it so, judge posner wrote, concluding that mr. pence<u+2019>s <u+201c>targeting syrian refugees is discrimination on the basis of nationality.<u+201d> kara brooks, a spokeswoman for mr. pence, said indiana <u+201c>took decisive action<u+201d> to suspend resettlement of syrian refugees after the terrorist attack in paris and <u+201c>because the fbi and the department of homeland security acknowledged security gaps with regard to screening refugees from syria.<u+201d> ken falk, legal director of the american civil liberties union of indiana, which is representing exodus, said the appeals court underscored that gov. pence <u+201c>may not constitutionally or legally discriminate against a particular nationality of refugees that are extensively vetted by the federal government.<u+201d> write to joe palazzolo at joe.palazzolo@wsj.com
court blocks indiana gov. mike pence<u+2019>s plan to limit syrian refugees - wsj
joe palazzolo