While some governors around the country have raised concerns about accepting Syrian refugees following last week’s attacks in Paris, Gov. Bill Walker is focused on Alaska’s budget woes.
Walker spokeswoman Katie Marquette says Walker has been focused on solving the state’s fiscal challenges and has not given consideration to trying to stop Syrian refugees from settling in Alaska.
Governors in many states are responding to heightened concerns that terrorists might use the refugees as cover to sneak across borders.
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, in a Facebook post, said that before allowing any Syrian refugees into the U.S., there needs to be a robust verification system for all asylum seekers to ensure that potential terrorists aren’t being allowed into the United States. He says no such system currently exists.
