Pence remains point man in immigration debate

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — 31 states have now closed their borders to Syrian refugees. Yet Indiana Governor Mike Pence is still a point man in the debate over security versus immigration.

Pence was back on cable television Friday defending the decision to turn away a Syrian family of three this week, a family that was then welcomed in Connecticut.

Here in Indianapolis, Democratic Congressman André Carson, who is Muslim, suggested that it was the governor who is misguided for turning away the Syrian family.

“It’s disappointing, it’s disheartening,” said Carson. “Beyond the national security concerns, it seems to me like a justification for bigotry.”

Pence appeared on Fox News where he was again asked about the decision to turn away the family who spent three years in Jordan waiting to come to Indianapolis.

“This is not about that little family,” he said, “and God bless them and God bless all of the people who have been displaced by the violence of ISIS and all of what’s happening in Syria.”

Republican Congressman Luke Messer tried to find some middle ground.

“I want to see us come up with the intelligence capability to appropriately vet these refugees,” Messer said, “but we need to be very careful here.”

Carson wants the ban lifted.

“That does not say we should minimize the very real terrorist threat that we have in this country,” Carson said, “but it doesn’t justify an anti-immigration sentiment, nor does it justify an anti-Muslim sentiment or even xenophobia.”

The governor has also written an opinion piece that is appearing in some Indiana newspapers explaining his decision regarding Syrian immigration.

It makes no mention of the family that was turned away.