Recently, a state representative from South Carolina leveled criticism at Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate, for her stance on the refugee resettlement program under Obama during her tenure as governor. The representative pointed out that nearly ten years ago, he, along with other county council members, was compelled to adopt a resolution to prevent Haley from backing the initiative.
In response, Haley’s campaign team underlined her efforts to tackle illegal immigration while she was governor and her resistance to Obama’s immigration policies. They further pointed out that in 2015, Haley had requested the State Department to avoid relocating Syrian refugees to South Carolina, citing national security concerns.
However, the state representative claimed Haley continued supporting the resettlement program despite state provisions against it. He argued that it took significant pressure from state lawmakers before Haley reversed her stance.
The state representative further expressed concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the number of people entering the country and the ongoing issue of border security. He believed that Haley’s position on immigration would exacerbate the situation.
In the timeframe in question, the administration under President Obama had pledged to admit about 10,000 Syrian refugees over 12 months. South Carolina’s representatives, including Haley, expressed doubts about the thoroughness of the background checks for refugees originating from war-torn regions. These doubts were intensified by the discovery of a Syrian passport near one of the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Haley made it clear that she continued to endorse the resettlement of refugees experiencing religious persecution from other regions, including Burma, the Congo, Ukraine, and Iraq. While she recognized the significance of aiding those in critical need, she maintained that the circumstances in Syria represented a possible risk to national security.
Haley also shared her experience with the U.S. resettlement program, mentioning how two interpreters who had worked with her husband in Afghanistan were brought to the United States. She highlighted their contributions and the dangers they faced because of their political beliefs and religious affiliation.
Refugee resettlement has emerged as a contentious topic, as the Obama administration had plans to admit more than 110,000 refugees from different global regions in 2016. National security worries and the fear of terrorists infiltrating the country under the guise of refugees sparked intense discussions throughout the election period.
