Gov. Brown will allow Syrian refugees after vetting process

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- News that one of the terrorists involved in Friday's attacks in Paris blended in among thousands of Syrian refugees to sneak into Paris is now prompting governors in 26 U.S. states to refuse Syrian refugees. ABC7 News looks at where California Gov. Jerry Brown stands on this issue.

Brown says people fleeing Syria are still welcome in California, if they're fully vetted in a reliable way.

In an emailed statement to ABC7 News, the governor's office sent the following statement from Brown: "I intend to work closely with the President so that he can both uphold America's traditional role as a place of asylum, but also ensure that anyone seeking refuge in America is fully vetted in a sophisticated and utterly reliable way. You can be sure that we will do everything in our power to protect the people of our state."

"It is a concern when there are that many people all coming at once with very bad paperwork, with not much knowledge of the backgrounds of such large numbers of people. It's hard to vet," Mills College professor of government Fred Lawson said.

Lawson was at a world affairs council lecture on ISIS Monday evening and acknowledges the security issues that come with Syrian refugees. He also feels it is America's duty to help people in need and he is not alone in thinking that.

"To deny these people the right to come into our country and have a better life goes against everything this country is all about," Berkeley resident Kurt Worthington said.

"It's pretty difficult to cast all the refugees in the same light because there are a few extremists," San Francisco resident Michael Anthony said.

The governor of Alabama feels "a few" is too many.

"When you know that some of the people coming out of that region have the potential to be terrorists, we can't take the chance on that," Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said.

Catholic Charities in Santa Clara feels not only are refugees not a risk, they're an asset.

Theresa Samuel-Boko is manager of the Refugee Resettlement Program for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. She said, "They work, they have jobs, they pay taxes, and so and so... they do become part of our community. They're not a threat to our community, they are part of us."

Immigration experts say under the refugee act of 1980 governors cannot legally block refugees from their communities.

According to the Associated Press, a Greek official confirmed the Syrian passport found on the body of one of the attackers at the Stade de France belonged to someone who had crossed into the European Union as a refugee, through the Greek island of Leros in October.

The Refugee Processing Center says 218 Syrian refugees have arrived in California this year.

Join the conversation. Click here to comment on our Facebook post about this issue.

Here's a look at where some state governors stand, and the number (in parentheses) of Syrian refugees who have arrived in each state since Jan. 1, according to the U.S. State Department's Refugee Processing Center:

ALABAMA (0)

Republican Gov. Robert Bentley announced Sunday that he would refuse Syrian refugees relocating to the state, saying: "I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm's way." Bentley's news release said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was diligently working with federal officials to monitor any possible threats. There has been no credible intelligence of terror threats in Alabama so far, according to the governor's office.

ALASKA (0)

The oil-producing state is grappling with an estimated budget deficit of $3.5 billion amid low oil prices, and Gov. Bill Walker, a Republican turned independent, "has been focused on solving the state's fiscal challenges," spokeswoman Katie Marquette said by email Monday. She said Walker has not given any consideration to trying to stop Syrian refugees from settling in the state.

ARIZONA (153)

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is calling for an immediate halt to the placement of any new refugees from the Middle East. And Ducey made it clear that the state is within its legal rights to do so, saying that he is invoking the state's right under federal law to immediately consult with U.S. officials on any new refugee placements. He also wants Congress to change the law to give states more oversight over refugee placement. Ducey says national leaders must react to protect its citizens.

ARKANSAS (0)

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he opposes Syrian refugees being relocated to Arkansas. Hutchinson, a former undersecretary of the federal Department of Homeland Security, said he doesn't believe the United States should be a permanent place of relocation for the refugees and that he thinks Europe, Asia or Africa are logically the best places for resettlement or temporary asylum.

CALIFORNIA (218)

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown says he'll work closely with President Barack Obama to ensure any Syrian refugees coming to California are "fully vetted in a sophisticated and utterly reliable way." He says the state can help uphold America's traditional role as a place of asylum while also protecting Californians.

COLORADO (5)

Colorado's governor isn't ruling out Syrian refugees in the wake of terror attacks in Paris. But Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper said Monday the federal government needs to make sure the verification process for refugees is "as stringent as possible." Colorado has received no Syrian refugees, according to state officials.

CONNECTICUT (42)

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says Connecticut will continue to accept refugees from Syria. The Democrat told NBC Connecticut on Monday the state is committed to accepting the refugees and believes background checks could easily be performed. His spokesman, Devon Puglia, said the administration is continuing to work with federal officials and await guidance as "they develop procedures following the tragedy in Paris."

FLORIDA (104)

Gov. Rick Scott is calling on Congress to block attempts by the Obama administration to relocate 425 Syrian refugees to Florida. The Republican governor on Monday wrote a letter to congressional leaders that asked them to take "immediate and aggressive action" to prevent the relocation of Syrian refugees without an "extensive evaluation" of the risk the refugees may pose to national security.

GEORGIA (57)

Gov. Nathan Deal says the state will not accept Syrian refugees. Deal, a Republican, says he issued an executive order on Monday directing state officials to prevent resettlement of Syrian refugees in Georgia. He also asked the Obama administration to work with Georgia officials to confirm the backgrounds of Syrian refugees already resettled in Georgia.

IDAHO (27)

Republican Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is calling for the immediate halt of resettling new refugees until vetting rules can be reviewed and state concerns about the program can be addressed.

ILLINOIS (131)

Republica Gov. Bruce Rauner announced he wants to prevent Syrian refugees from relocating in their states. In a statement issued Monday, Rauner said the state will "temporarily suspend accepting new Syrian refugees and consider all of our legal options pending a full review of the process by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."

IOWA (0)

Saying he wants to protect residents of his state in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris, Gov. Terry Branstad acknowledged that governors might not be have the legal authority to prevent the Syrian refugees from relocating to their states because "this is a federal program." Still, the Republican says he wants more information from the federal government about where people are being placed and the vetting process.

INDIANA (18)

Republican Gov. Mike Pence announced Monday that he was ordering state agencies to suspend the relocation of any more Syrian refugees to the state until he received assurances from the federal government that proper security measures had been taken.

KANSAS (8)

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback issued an executive order Monday directing that no state agency, or organization receiving grant money from the state, shall participate or assist in the relocation of Syrian refugee

KENTUCKY (99)

Kentucky's incoming Republican governor is opposing the resettlement of Syrian refugees. Republican Gov.-elect Matt Bevin's stance is at odds with Kentucky's current governor. Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear says Kentucky should do "the Christian thing" and welcome all refugees who have passed extensive background checks.

LOUISIANA (14)

Gov. Bobby Jindal - a Republican presidential contender - said he wants more information from the White House "in hopes that the night of horror in Paris is not duplicated here." Jindal sent a letter to the White House on Saturday, demanding to know how many Syrian refugees have been resettled in his state. He also wants to know the extent of background screening before Syrians entered the U.S. as well as what monitoring would be done once the refugees make it to Louisiana.

MAINE (0)

Gov. Paul LePage says it is "irresponsible" to allow Syrian refugees into the country in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris. The Republican governor, who said he does "not know for certain" if Maine has any Syrian refugees right now, plans to point out in a radio address on Monday that one of his first actions as governor was to prevent Maine from serving as a "sanctuary state" for people living in the country without legal permission.

MARYLAND (31)

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says the state will "make a very reasoned and careful decision" about how it will proceed in policy regarding potential Syrian refugees. The Republican governor said Monday the issue is one that "we'll be looking at very closely."

MASSACHUSETTS (62)

Gov. Charlie Baker says he's opposed to allowing more Syrian refugees into Massachusetts in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris and that he wants to know much more about the federal government's vetting process before allowing them into the state.

MICHIGAN (195)

Gov. Rick Snyder had bucked many fellow Republican leaders by welcoming refugees to Michigan, which has a large Arab-American population. But he said Sunday that the state is postponing efforts to accept refugees until federal officials fully review security procedures and clearances. Snyder said that while he is proud of the state's history of immigration, its "first priority is protecting the safety of our residents."

MINNESOTA (7)

Gov. Mark Dayton isn't objecting to the possible placement of Syrian refugees in his state as long as they undergo rigorous screening first. The Democrat released a statement Monday saying he's been assured by the White House that any refugees from Syria would be "subject to the highest level of security checks of any category of traveler to the United States."

MISSISSIPPI (0)

Gov. Phil Bryant said Monday that he's trying to find out if there are any plans by the federal government to relocate any Syrian refugees in the state and if there are the Republican said he will "do everything humanly possible" to stop it.

MISSOURI (29)

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon says it's up to the federal government to screen refugees and is calling for safeguards following deadly terror attacks in Paris. But in a statement Monday, Nixon didn't say he'd block Syrian refugees from settling in Missouri. Three Republican candidates for governor want Nixon to do so, citing safety concerns.

MONTANA (0)

Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock said Monday the state "will not allow any terrorist organization to intimidate us into abandoning our values." State officials are reviewing the existing protocols for considering refugee settlement requests and if there are any safety concerns, the refugees will be denied, he said.

NEW HAMPSHIRE (3)

New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan says the United States should halt the acceptance of Syrian refugees until intelligence and defense officials can assure a strong process for vetting refugees. The Democratic governor also says more facts are needed on how the attackers got into Paris before the United States takes more Syrian refugees.

NEBRASKA (0)

Gov. Pete Ricketts says he does not want Syrian refugees resettling in Nebraska until the federal government conducts a full review of its screening procedures to ensure public safety. The Republican sent a letter Monday to refugee resettlement agencies in the state, urging them not to pursue resettlement of the refugees in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

NORTH CAROLINA (23)

Republican Gov. Pat McCrory is asking the Obama administration to cease sending refugees from Syria to North Carolina until the state is satisfied with the effectiveness of federal background and security checks.

NORTH DAKOTA (0)

The office of Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple says North Dakota has not received any Syrian refugees and doesn't expect any will be sent to the state.

OHIO (78)

Gov. John Kasich, a Republican presidential candidate, doesn't want Ohio or the United States to accept more Syrian refugees. Spokesman Jim Lynch says the Republican presidential candidate is writing to ask President Barack Obama to stop resettling Syrian refugees in Ohio because safety and security issues can't adequately be addressed. Kasich also is reviewing steps Ohio might take to stop resettlement.

OKLAHOMA (3)

Republican Gov. Gov. Mary Fallin is urging President Barack Obama to suspend accepting any Syrian refugees to the U.S. Fallin said Monday the Obama administration needs to assure the public that it is conducting rigorous background checks on any Syrian refugees coming into the U.S.

PENNSYLVANIA (119)

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said his administration will keep working with the federal government to properly screen and resettle Syrian refugees in the state.

RHODE ISLAND (0)

Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo said in September she's willing to help if the federal government asks Rhode Island to host Syrian refugees. Raimondo's spokeswoman says the governor would coordinate closely with the White House and law enforcement if the state receives a request now.

SOUTH CAROLINA (0)

Republican Gov. Nikki Haley says she's re-evaluating international refugee programs in light of the terrorist attacks in Paris but continues to support allowing the persecuted to come to South Carolina. She says no Syrians have been brought to South Carolina. She says refugees from other nations in South Carolina have been persecuted for being Christians, for their political views or because they were interpreters for American military personnel.

TENNESSEE (30)

Gov. Bill Haslam says he is asking the federal government to suspend placement of Syrian refugees in Tennessee. In a statement released to media on Monday, Haslam acknowledges that the federal government has the authority to place refugees but states "they have said in the past they would be open to cooperating with receiving states."

TEXAS (194)

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday ordered Texas' refugee resettlement program not to accept any more Syrians in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks. In a letter to Obama, the Republican also urged scrapping federal plans to accept more Syrian refugees into the country as a whole. He said the federal government can't perform "proper security checks" on Syrians.

UTAH (7)

Republican Gov. Gary Herbert is ordering a review of security checks for refugees coming to Utah on the heels of the last week's attacks in Paris, but he stopped short of threatening to stop accepting Syrian refugees. Herbert said he wants to help those fleeing violence but that public safety is the top priority.

VIRGINIA (13)

A spokesman for Virginia's governor says his public safety team is communicating with federal authorities about refugee resettlements, including those involving Syrians. Brian Coy issued the statement Monday on behalf of Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe. The statement says every refugee settled in the U.S. undergoes intensive security screening.

VERMONT (0)

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says his colleagues across the nation who say they won't allow Syrian refugees into their states are "stomping on the qualities that make America great." Shumlin, a Democrat, says there is an extensive screening process in place for refugees. Since 1989 about 7,000 refugees have been resettled in Vermont and while none of them are from Syria, there are plans to settle a small number in the state during the current fiscal year.

WASHINGTON (22)

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee says Washington state will welcome Syrian refugees if the federal government ultimately decides the state will receive any of those the Obama's administration has pledged to resettle over the next year. Inslee criticized other governors who have threated to stop accepting refugees following last week's attacks in Paris.

WEST VIRGINIA (0)

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's office says he does not anticipate a federal request for placement of refugees in West Virginia. In a statement, Tomblin's office says the governor has not been contacted by the federal government regarding large-scale placements of Syrian refugees, and that any smaller placements likely would take more than a year. The statement says the state would ensure "that proper security screening was conducted by federal and state officials."

WISCONSIN (1)

Gov. Scott Walker said Monday that Wisconsin won't accept any new Syrian refugees because doing so poses a security threat.

Click here to read more about the Paris terror attack.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.