AUSTIN, Texas (May 3, 2017) – Last week, the Texas Senate passed a bill that would effectively end all state government cooperation with refugee resettlement. The move would significantly hinder refugee resettlement in the Lone Star State. Sen. Donald Huffines (R) and Sen. Bob Hall (R) prefiled Senate Bill 260 (SB260) last fall. The legislation…
PIERRE, S.D. (March 17, 2017) – South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard has signed a bill into law repealing the authority of the state Department of Social Services to enter into agreements related to the Refugee Act of 1980. A coalition of 12 Republican representatives and senators sponsored Senate Bill 124 (SB124). Originally, the bill would…
AUSTIN, Texas (Sept. 22, 2016) – Texas has threatened to pull the plug on state assistance to refugees if the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) does not unconditionally approve the state’s revised resettlement plan by Sept. 30. The move would significantly hinder refugee resettlement in the Lone Star State. The state’s refugee coordinator sent…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 28, 2016) – Last week, the South Carolina Senate stripped a bill of provisions to defund state participation in some contentious federal refugee resettlement programs. A coalition of seven senators introduced Senate Bill 997 (S.0997) on Jan. 14. The legislation would have generally banned state expenditures directly or indirectly benefiting a refugee placed…
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb. 18, 2016) – An Arizona bill that would prohibit state cooperation with some contentious federal refugee resettlement programs passed an important House committee yesterday. If ultimately passed into law, the legislation would take a significant step towards nullifying these programs in practice within the state. A coalition of seven Republican representatives in Arizona…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb. 18, 2016) – A South Carolina bill that would defund state cooperation with some contentious federal refugee resettlement programs passed the state Senate on Tuesday. If ultimately passed into law, the legislation would represent a step towards nullifying such resettlement programs in practice in the state. A coalition of seven senators introduced Senate…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 4, 2015) – Several bills introduced in the South Carolina legislature would end state cooperation with some contentious federal refugee resettlement programs, a significant step towards nullifying them in practice in the state. Legislators have filed five different bills that would limit state cooperation with Syrian refugee resettlement to varying degrees by denying…