USA judge denies another Texas request to block Syrian refugees

His statement cited the alleged involvement of a Syrian refugee in the November Paris attacks by Islamist extremists, an Federal Bureau of Investigation director's statement about failures in the resettlement program, and a statement from the chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee that individuals with links to Syrian terrorist groups have attempted to access the U.S. through its refugee program.

In rejecting Texas' restraining order request, U.S. District Judge David Godbey that Texas "failed to show by competent evidence that any terrorists actually have infiltrated the refugee program".

Republican Texas Attorney General Kenneth Paxton filed the latest request Wednesday saying there was new "evidence" that the refugees were a possible danger.

Texas is among almost 30 states that have vowed to keep out Syrian refugees since the Paris attacks.

When a refugee relief group balked, the state sued them and federal officials to block 21 Syrian refugees from entering the state.

Since fiscal 2011, 243 Syrian refugees have resettled in Texas, the US filing said, making it one of the main USA relocation sites since the Syrian civil war erupted about four years ago. The nine refugees that prompted the second restraining order request - a family of eight and a 26-year-old woman reuniting with her mother in the Houston area - would arrive in Texas on Thursday to be resettled.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised Cruz's proposed legislation Tuesday, saying it "will give states the ability to control the flow of refugees from countries with known terrorist ties".

Gov. Greg Abbott, who has thus far been unable to back up last month's pledge that Texas will not accept Syrian refugees, praised Paxton's renewed attempt to block the flow of refugees. Ted Cruz, R-Texas gestures as he takes questions from members of the media during a news conference with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, about the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the US, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015.

Syrian refugees will be settled in Texas, according to a ruling issued in San Antonio on Monday. It would also allow the governor of a state to reject any refugee without "adequate assurance" that the refugee doesn't present a security risk.

The Justice Department said in its previous filing the Refugee Act of 1980 requires the government to consult on a regular basis with states about the sponsorship process and distribution among states.

He said the idea that these refugees are terrorists is ridiculous.

But Rippenkroeger said "due to safety and privacy concerns our organization can't disclose resettlement details of Syrians or any refugees that have arrived in Houston". Volunteers who regularly work with refugees say they've seen an uptick in donations and offers to help in the wake of more attention being paid to Syrian refugees. But he said he welcomed them anyway because helping refugees "is an essential part of our identity as Catholic Christians".

Ryan said despite voiced concerns of terrorists slipping through the refugee system, Texas residents need to understand the extensive screening process taken.