Sandoval calls on Obama to complete review before sending any more refugees
CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval on Monday called on President Barack Obama not to send any Syrian refugees to Nevada until the administration completes a review of protocols for eligibility and security.
In a letter to the White House, Sandoval said after a review of federal regulations over resettlement, “I am encouraging you to make a further review and to consider necessary refinements to these policies and practices given the recent tragedy in France.”
He added, “I am specifically concerned about the background checks performed for Syrian refugees sent to Nevada for resettlement, and I would appreciate further guidance on the benefits eligibility of such persons while they reside here.”
He concluded, “I would also request that until your administration has completed the review of these programs, no additional Syrian refugees be admitted for resettlement in Nevada.”
Sandoval’s letter to the president was stronger than a public statement he issued earlier in the evening, when he said he asked state agencies to determine how many refugees are currently in Nevada and would evaluate the situation after a response from the federal government.
“It is in the interest of all Nevadans and the millions who travel to our state annually to insist on extensive evaluations of any potential risk individuals may pose to Nevada or our national security,” Sandoval, a former federal judge, said in a statement.
He concluded, “We must balance our nation’s role as an international leader with the safety and security of our citizens and visitors.”
