Two Syrian families — who are approved to resettle in the United States — were told they were not welcome to arrive in Indianapolis on Thursday.
The family had lived and waited in Jordan for three years, the New York Times reports, and will now be placed in Connecticut.
Governor Mike Pence — along with at least 28 other governors across the states — claimed they would suspend the federal resettlement of Syrian refugees. The decision comes after Friday's deadly terror attacks in Paris.
An official with the Indiana Family & Social Services sent letters to organisations on Tuesday saying that all resettlements of Syrian refugees would be suspended until further notice.
Carleen Miller, executive director for the Exodus Refugee Immigration in Indianapolis, told the Times that finding the family a new home was “one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in the eight years I’m here.”
"It's heartbreaking. It's a really sad week for Hoosiers," she told the Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. "I don't think this represents Hoosiers as we've been overwhelmed with calls from supportive people wanting to help Syrian refugees. We need to have a welcoming message for refugees in this state."
Chris George, executive director of the Integrated Refugee Immigrant Services in New Haven, said that he was surprised with the request but accepted without hesitation. The family will now join 22 Syrian immigrants in New Haven.
“By diverting this family, we don’t want to set a precedent,” he told the Times. “The last thing a refugee agency wants to do is give in to this un-American, political and knee-jerk reaction.”
President Barack Obama announced in September that the US would take in 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016.
