USA: Divided Over The Syrian Refugee Crisis

The White House sought Tuesday to reassure US governors concerned about accepting Syrian refugees following the attacks in Paris, explaining during a conference call how the refugees are screened and prioritized for entry.

Like at least a dozen other governors, Abbott made a decision to bar Syrian refugees following the terrorist attacks in Paris.

"America is a welcoming nation, but we can not allow Islamic extremists to take advantage of our compassion and use our own policies to infiltrate our country and harm innocent Americans", he said.

Republicans in the US House of Representatives in Congress are preparing legislation that threatens to suspend a White House refugee program for Syrians. So far, 27 states are on the list excluding Alaska.

The calls came in the wake of statements of varying intensity by the mostly Republican governors of 25 states who say they are anxious about people resettling in their states after fleeing Syria's four-year civil war.

"This is despicable, and cowardly, and precisely the kind of reaction ISIS wanted". They say they've tried to strike a balance in the bill, noting it would not limit refugees based on their religion. "When we sent Jews back to Germany, and when we sent Japanese to internment camps, we regretted it, and we will regret this as well".

Emerging from a closed-door meeting yesterday, Republicans said the chairmen of national security-focused committees were working on legislation dealing with Syrian refugees that the House could vote on as early tomorrow.

"The refugee issue with people coming from the middle east has nothing to do with immigration", she said.

Governors from 34 states participated in the 90-minute call, led by White House chief of staff Denis McDonough, and 13 governors asked questions about the program, the White House said in a statement.

Democrats are more divided on what to do. Sen.

"We are not well served when, in response to a terrorist attack, we descend into fear and panic", Obama said. Candidates are interviewed in person at refugee camps bordering Syria and the vetting requires almost two years on average and only around 2 percent are single males of combat age, officials said. "When individuals say we should have religious tests, and only Christians, proven Christians, should be allowed, that's offensive and contrary to American values".