SALT LAKE CITY — Governor Gary Herbert’s office issued a statement Monday regarding Syrian refugees entering Utah.
Utah is not one of the sixteen states refusing Syrian refugees, but Herbert said an immediate reevaluation of security checks used by the FBI, the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security is warranted to protect Utahns.
Read the full statement from Gov. Herbert’s office:
“Gov. Herbert joins with those who mourn the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France. In the wake of these attacks, the governor will aggressively pursue a course of action that provides for the safety and security of Utahns. The governor has directed the Utah Department of Public Safety to immediately reevaluate the security checks currently used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of State, and the Department of Homeland Security as part of Utah’s refugee program. The highest duty of a governor is to protect public safety. Working together with our congressional delegation, the governor will diligently assess these security protocols, and if warranted, implement a change in state policy.
“Utahns are well known for our compassion for those who are fleeing the violence in their homeland, and we will work to do all we can to ease their suffering without compromising public safety.”
