Human rights groups in Illinois say they'll continue programs for Syrian refugees. That’s despite the governor's calls to suspend accepting them.
As of 2010, Illinois has welcomed about 170 Syrian refugees. That's according to Sam Tuttle, policy director for Heartland Alliance.
"We hope that the governor and his staff and the people of Illinois will learn more about the resettlement program and that we can all be welcoming refugees who have oftentimes witnessed some great horrors, so that they can start their lives again," Tuttle said.
Tuttle’s group and others called on the governor this week to reverse his threat to stop taking in new Syrian refugees. Tuttle says he doesn't have that authority - and the people coming from Syria are fleeing violence - not perpetrators of it:
"Illinois should remain a compassionate voice for the people who are fleeing the very violence that led to the Paris attacks," Tuttle said.
Earlier this year, President Obama said the federal refugee resettlement program would allow 10,000 more migrants from Syria into the country in the fiscal year beginning last month. Last year, that number was only 2,000.
Tuttle says it's likely many of those people would be placed in Illinois.
