Syrian refugeesTexas sues to block resettlement of Syrian refugees

Published 3 December 2015

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission on Wednesday filed suits in federal court against the U.S. State Department, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and other organizations as part of the state effort to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Texas.

Texas HHS resists federal relocation plan for syrian refugees // Source: sec.gov

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission on Wednesday filed suits in federal court against the U.S. State Department, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and other organizations as part of the state effort to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Texas.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the IRC is planning to relocate two Syrian refugee families to Texas next week, even though Texas state officials insist that this plan is reckless. State officials say that they would cut funding for the agency.

AOL reports that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission asked the U.S. District Court in Dallas for an immediate restraining order and a hearing by 9 December for an injunction to block resettlement. The state has also asked to judge to order that no Syrian refugees be resettled in the state until then.

Texas is arguing that the defendants named in the suit are violating their “statutory duty to consult with the State in advance of placing refugees in Texas.”