WPRO News

Governor Gina Raimondo said Wednesday morning that the outcry against allowing Syrian refugees into Rhode Island is a non-issue at this time, and that her top priority as governor is keeping Rhode Islanders safe.

“Right now there’s much to do about nothing,” Governor Raimondo told WPRO’s Steve Klamkin on Wednesday morning. “As far as no one has asked Rhode Island to take in refugees. My number one job is to make sure that the people of Rhode Island are safe and secure. But I’m going to take the federal government’s lead and if at some future date Rhode Island is called upon to do something, to respond to this humanitarian crisis, I’m going to take a look at it.”

The Governor was also asked about Thursday afternoon’s planned rally, spearheaded by State Representatives Bobby Nardolillo and Doreen Costa, which calls on the governor to refuse any Syrian refugees into Rhode Island, Raimondo called the rally “Unfortunate. We have no facts. Rhode Island has not been asked to take in a single refugee. So right now we should be focused on praying for the people in France and we should be focused on keeping Rhode Islanders safe, which is what I’m doing. And then if at some future time we’re asked to consider something, I’ll take a look at it.”

So far, more than half of the governors in the United States, including Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, have said they will not allow Syrian refugees into their states, despite some claims that they do not have the power to refuse them. President Obama siad Wednesday that the governors’ refusal is “hysterical” and that “it needs to stop”.

“Apparently they’re scared of widows and orphans coming into the United States of America,” said President Obama. He added that the government doesn’t make decisions  “based on hysteria or an exaggeration of risks”.