skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Groups Protest Gov. Ducey's Request to Halt Refugees to Arizona

play audio
Play

Wednesday, November 18, 2015   

PHOENIX - Gov. Doug Ducey's call for a moratorium on refugees entering Arizona in light of the recent terrorist attacks in France is drawing criticism from groups that assist in settling refugees.

The immigrants rights group Puente and Catholic Charities of Arizona are among those protesting the governor's request. They say he is blaming the refugees for the violence many of them are trying to escape.

Alessandra Soler, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, says drawing a link between the tragedy in Paris and the resettlement of refugees is playing on the fears of Arizonans.

"And it really does perpetuate fear-mongering and stereotyping of refugees who are fleeing some war-torn nation," says Soler.

She says Ducey does not have the legal power to halt the flow of refugees, but has asked the federal government to stop sending them. And he's found support for his position among a number of Arizona Republicans, including Sen. John McCain. About two dozen other governors have made similar requests.

Soler points out that the governor's request goes beyond barring Syrian refugees, but seeks a moratorium on resettling any refugees in Arizona. She sees Ducey's stand as another black eye for the state when it comes to refugee and immigrant issues.

"What it does is, it really further tarnishes Arizona's reputation as being an unwelcoming and hostile to refugees and immigrants," says Soler.

According to state officials, Arizona currently ranks sixth in the U.S. for refugee resettlement. The state took in more than 3,600 people, including 112 from Syria, last year.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021