Idaho governor says Christian refugees deserve priority

BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter says he agrees with President Donald Trump that persecuted Christians should be treated as priority in the U.S. refugee program despite acknowledging that such preference is discriminatory.

“It is,” Otter said during an interview on Idaho Public Television’s Idaho Reports. “(But) we want a safe country.”

Otter made his remarks during an interview with Idaho Public Television’s Idaho Reports, which aired Friday. The 30-minute interview touched on the governor’s thoughts on immigration, transportation and trade, but it also highlighted specifically President Donald Trump’s latest actions regarding immigration and refugees.

The executive order signed by Trump suspends immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and all refugee resettlement for 120 days. It provides exceptions for refugees who practice a religion that makes them a minority in their home country. On Friday, however, a federal judge temporarily blocked Trump’s ban after Washington state and Minnesota urged a nationwide hold on the executive order that has launched legal battles across the country. The White House said Friday night it will seek an emergency stay of the federal judge’s order.

“The reason I think he did was because they were being more persecuted than others,” Otter said.

When asked if Muslims were also persecuted, Otter said “Probably. I don’t know that, but I do know that the Christians are.”

Otter has been growing critic of the refugee program, often expressing frustration that governors do not have authority to halt block refugees from settling in their communities as under the Refugee Act of 1980.

In 2015, in the aftermath of the co-ordinated attacks in Paris, Otter called for the immediate halt of resettling new refugees until vetting rules can be reviewed and state concerns about the program can be addressed.

During Friday’s interview, Otter said he hoped Trump’s new vetting guidelines would allow for input from governors. Otter then urged Congress to allow states to opt out of the refugee placement program.

Trump’s other orders on immigration have prompted legislation in Idaho.

Earlier this week, a Republican state lawmaker introduced legislation that would punish cities and counties for passing immigrant-protecting “sanctuary city” policies — even though the state has none. A separate Republican backed piece of legislation is designed to prevent state courts or government agencies from making decisions based on Islamic religious law or other foreign legal codes. While no such ruling as ever occurred in Idaho, its sponsor acknowledges that the measure stems from concerns over Shariah law.

Boise, the capital, is one of a handful of smaller U.S. cities that has accepted Syrian refugees, at 108. Most refugees in the state settle there or in Twin Falls.

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Watch the interview: http://idahoptv.org/idreports/