Nov. 18, 2015
HARRISBURG – Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) today issued a statement in response to Gov. Tom Wolf’s recent announcement that Syrian refugees would continue to settled in Pennsylvania. It reads:
“Many constituents have contacted me to express reservations about accepting additional refugees from countries associated with terrorist activity, especially Syria. I share their concerns.
“Though the governor pledges to allow Syrian refugee settlement to continue unabated in the Commonwealth, legislators are exploring all available options to pause the flow of immigrants from terror-sponsoring nations.
“In 1975, my family sponsored four adult refugees of the Vietnam War, who were initially encamped at Indiantown Gap just a mile or so from our home. They all went on to contribute positively to our community and now are successful Americans. Five years later, we had a very different experience when Fidel Castro’s outcasts rioted at – and occasionally escaped from – the same facility.
“I believe America ought to continue its role of helping refugees of foreign aggression and serving as that shining city on the hill. However, with recent events in France and elsewhere, we must now step back and properly assess whether these Syrian refugees are in fact refugees, or embedded agents of our enemies.”
Diamond urged concerned citizens to contact Wolf and urge him to change course. So far, 27 governors – Republican and Democrat – have announced they will halt the settlement of Syrian refugees in their states. The governor’s office can be reached at (717) 787-2500.
For more information, please visit
RepDiamond.com or
Facebook.com/RepDiamond.
Representative Russ Diamond
102nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Ryan Travis, 717.260.6335
rtravis@pahousegop.com
RepDiamond.com /
Facebook.com/RepDiamond