Governor Deal Blocks Benefit Assistance to Syrian Refugees

ATLANTA - In a memo sent Wednesday, the Department of Human Services instructed all staff to not take or process new applications for benefit assistance to any Syrian refugees. This is a part of Governor Nathan Deal's executive order, calling the federal government  to examine the security concerns and establish a new process for accepting refugees.

"They escape for their life and for their kids and for their family life," said Asad Altabchi, a Syrian-American who helps Syrian refugees settle in Georgia.

Altabchi said suspending benefit assistance like Medicaid will affect families, especially children who spent the last four years in refugee camps.

"They have been four years running from place to another place, in refugee camps," said  Altabchi.  "They have serious problems with nutrition."

J.D. McCrary, Executive Director with The International Rescue Committee told FOX 5 N he is already seeing the impact of Governor Deal's order with one of his clients.  McCrary believes the governor's call, requesting the Department of Homeland Security to work with federal authorities, and once again go back and vet the 59 Syrian refugees who are already here is extreme.

"We are going to ask some of our supporters to call the governor's office to reiterate that the security checks are effective, that they work and there really is no reason to take such drastic measures as opposing any type of Syrian refugees resettlement," said McCrary referring to the two year vetting process Syrian refugees currently go through.

Altabchi said with the help of the Syrian community in Atlanta, many of these Syrian refugee families become self-sufficient in just two months, but with these new restrictions, it will put new obstacles in the way of Syrian refugees who Altabchi said are just looking for a better life.

"I really wish Governor Nathan Deal would reconsider this matter," said Altabchi.  " We are punishing the innocent people."