Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Michigan in early talks on taking more Syria, Middle East refugees, Snyder says

Michigan in early talks on taking more Syria, Middle East refugees, Snyder says - Crain's Detroit Business:
"LANSING — Republican Gov. Rick Snyder said Tuesday his administration is talking with federal officials on the role the state can play in accepting more refugees from war-torn Syria and the Middle East, building on Michigan's century-plus of Arab immigration and taking a different tone from some GOP presidential candidates.
Snyder spoke to the inaugural meeting of the state Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs, which works within the Department of Civil Rights to monitor, evaluate and make recommendations to the governor.
He helped create the commission earlier this year.
...Snyder, who briefly considered a 2016 presidential run, isn't bad-mouthing anybody, but maintains that refugees who have cleared security hurdles have something to offer economically and culturally and should be warmly welcomed.
Michigan has one of nation's largest Middle Eastern populations and Snyder said he "would love to see it grow even faster and flourish," though added there's no specific number of refugees being discussed..."

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