Haslam Says He’s More Confident About Refugee Screening, But He Still Wants A Pause

Gov. Bill Haslam says he’s growing more comfortable with the nation’s screening process for refugees, as he learns more about it.

But in his first speech on the issue, he stopped short of saying Tennessee’s door should be open to Syrians.

The governor told the Rotary Club of Nashville on Monday afternoon that the question of whether to continue letting Syrian refugees in has been one of the most difficult he’s dealt with in his six years as governor. And although the decision ultimately lies with the federal government, Haslam says he’s trying to strike a balance  — between welcoming refugees and allaying Tennesseans’ fears about them.

“People in Tennessee are scared. Maybe scared as much as anything I’ve seen,” he said. “We got more phone calls (last) Monday about this issue than we’ve gotten on any issue in a day, since I’ve been in office.”

Haslam was traveling last week, so in the days immediately after the terrorist attacks in Paris, his response came through a pair of written statements.

In the first, Haslam joined other governors in asking for a freeze on Syrian resettlements. But in the second, he criticized Republican lawmaker Glen Casada for suggesting Syrian refugees are dangerous.

Haslam said he personally has few fears about the refugee program after speaking to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about it. The governor met her while attending a conference in Birmingham, Ala., last week.

“To be honest with you, the more I learn about the vetting process, it is a pretty good process,” he said.

Haslam added that leaving refugees in camps is potentially more dangerous than bringing them to the U.S.

Yet, at the same time Haslam’s arguing against resettling them in Tennessee.

Even after learning more about the federal vetting, the governor said the program should be halted until state authorities are given a role in reviewing refugee applications. And, Haslam argued, ordinary Tennesseans need to be given time to acquaint themselves with how the refugee program works before more asylum-seekers are allowed into the state.

“That’s why I’m saying, let us be a part of that vetting process to where we can be assured about who it is we’re talking about,” the governor told reporters afterward. “As I said, there’s an extraordinary level of fear out there right now.”