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Indiana sees Syrian refugee stream since Pence order blocked

Posted at 5:43 PM, Sep 04, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-04 19:03:18-04

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - About 150 Syrian refugees have arrived in Indiana in the months since a federal judge scuttled Gov. Mike Pence's order blocking state agencies from helping their resettlement.

Refugee assistance groups expect more this year, even as lawyers for the state go before a federal appeals court Sept. 14 to try to have the judge's decision overturned.

After the Paris terrorist attack in November, Pence said he didn't believe the federal government was adequately screening refugees from the war-torn country.

MOREPence: Indiana will not accept Syrian refugees  Family of Syrian refugees welcomed to Indianapolis  Judge: Gov. Pence can't stop refugee resettlement

His office says the Republican vice presidential candidate hasn't changed his mind, and Donald Trump has said he'd suspend arrivals from Syria, portraying them as a potential security threat.

Indianapolis-based Exodus Refugee Immigration says it hasn't encountered any troubles in resettling nearly 100 Syrians in Indiana this year.