Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas stops to answer a question from member of the media following a news conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, about the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the U.S., during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (The Associated Press)
DALLAS – The latest on the arrival of Syrian refugees in Texas and Indiana (all times CST):
12:25 p.m.
The day after a family of six Syrian refugees arrived in their state, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz announced a bill that would give any state the right to reject a refugee for security concerns.
The bill would require the federal government to give 21 days' notice to any state receiving a refugee. It would also allow the governor of a state to reject any refugee without "adequate assurance" that the refugee doesn't present a security risk.
Speaking at a news conference with Cruz, Abbott said Tuesday that he and other governors needed more tools to fight the federal refugee resettlement process.
Abbott said he wants to ensure Syrian refugees "who could pose a danger to the people of the state of Texas" will not be allowed in.
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12:15 p.m.
The Archdiocese of Indianapolis consulted regularly with other U.S. Catholic officials before deciding to settle a Syrian refugee family in Indiana despite the governor's objections.
Archdiocese spokesman Greg Otolski said Tuesday that the church was "confident" in its plan to relocate the couple and their two young children because they have existing family in Indianapolis.
He says the church's charity wing has forty years of experience resettling refugees and knows what it is doing.
Pence asked Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin last week to not resettle the family in Indiana amid his concerns about the screening of refugees from that war-torn part of the world.
Tobin says he considered Pence's request but decided to help the family settle in Indiana because such assistance is an "essential part" of the Catholic church's identity.
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10:30 a.m.
An aide says Indiana Gov. Mike Pence wants residents of the state to welcome a Syrian refugee family that was settled there, despite his objections.
Pence spokesman Matt Lloyd said Tuesday that the Republican governor is confident that Indiana residents will be welcoming to the couple and their two young children, who arrived Monday night.
Pence had asked Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin last week to not resettle the family in Indiana amid his concerns about the screening of refugees from that war-torn part of the world.
Tobin says he considered Pence's request but decided to help the family settle in Indiana because such assistance is an "essential part" of the Catholic church's identity.
Pence said on Twitter Tuesday that calls by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump to stop all Muslims from entering the U.S. were "offensive."
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9:15 a.m.
A spokesman for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says the governor respectfully disagrees with the decision of Catholic Church officials to resettle a Syrian refugee family in the state.
Pence's spokesman, Matt Lloyd, said Tuesday that the Republican governor's top priority is the safety of the people of Indiana and that his order blocking state agencies from assisting Syrian refugees will remain in place. Pence issued the order three days after the deadly Paris attacks last month.
Pence asked Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph Tobin last week to not resettle the family in Indiana. Tobin says the couple and their two small children arrived in Indianapolis Monday night and helping them is an "essential part" of the church's identity.
Lloyd says the governor still believes the screening of Syrian refugees must be improved before Indiana agencies will assist with resettlements.
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8:35 a.m.
Six Syrian refugees have settled in their Dallas home over the initial objections of Texas officials who wanted to stop them.
International Rescue Committee spokeswoman Lucy Carrigan said Tuesday that the family arrived Monday afternoon. She described the family as relieved and eager to start a new life in the United States.
Carrigan declined to identify where the family was living due to safety concerns.
The family's arrival was closely watched because it comes after Texas officials said they wanted to ban new Syrian refugees following the deadly Nov. 13 Paris attacks.
When the IRC indicated it would continue with resettling the family and other Syrians in Texas, the state went to court. The state has since withdrawn its request for an immediate ban on Syrian arrivals.
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