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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Zinke, Daines Urge Gov. To Block Syrian Refugees From Montana

Rep. Ryan Zinke urged the Governor to block efforts to place Syrian refugees in Montana. Zinke is seen here in a video update on vetting refugees.
Rep. Ryan Zinke urged the Governor to block efforts to place Syrian refugees in Montana. Zinke is seen here in a video update on vetting refugees.

A group of Missoula residents is working to bring a resettlement agency to the city in order to help refugees. But two Montana Republicans today urged Governor Bullock to prevent those refugees from coming to Montana.

The Missoulian reports that the group of volunteers, called Soft Landing Missoula, started in September when members saw photos of young Syrian refugees washed up on the beach. They have since been working to help refugees from all countries.

A representative from the agency International Rescue Committee was in Missoula yesterday to consider opening an office there.

Today Montana’s Republicans in Congress urged Governor Steve Bullock to object to any efforts by the federal government to place Syrian refugees in Montana. In a letter to Bullock, Senator Steve Daines and Congressman Ryan Zinke said the governor should direct state agencies to, quote, “utilize any lawful means to prevent those refugees from being placed in the State of Montana.”

Congressman Zinke offered an additional statement today on YouTube:

"We need to stop the refugees, pause, and make sure our vetting system is accurate and appropriate. Quite frankly, we don’t have a database, and a database doesn’t exist."

On Monday Governor Bullock said refugees requesting settlement in Montana will be denied if there are safety concerns.

He says the state is reviewing its protocols for resettlements and safety is the top priority.

AP news copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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