N.C. GOP leaders back McCrory on refugees

North Carolina’s Republican leaders are lining up behind Gov. Pat McCrory’s call to stop the flow of Syrian refugees into the state.

McCrory on Monday joined governors of at least 27 states asking the federal government to block Syrian refugees from entering their states. Their calls came three days after the Paris terror attacks, in which one assailant had what is believed to be a fake Syrian passport.

On Tuesday, North Carolina’s 10 Republican members of Congress issued a joint statement in support.

“We have been deeply troubled to learn one of the terrorists who committed this atrocity may have come to Europe posing as a Syrian refugee,” they wrote. “With the massive influx of Syrian refugees to Europe, this was always a threat and, regrettably, now it’s been realized …

“As a delegation, we join with Governor McCrory in calling for the Obama Administration to immediately cease sending Syrian refugees to our state. We believe this is a common sense step and applaud Governor McCrory for his leadership on the issue.”

The state’s legislative leaders, Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore, also expressed their support.

“We commend our Governor for his leadership in requesting that Syrian refugees not be placed in North Carolina,” they said in a statement. “It is important that our States unite to challenge the Obama Administration on its weak foreign policy.”

Critics accused McCrory of “fear-mongering.” A White House official said the administration remained “steadfastly committed” to President Barack Obama’s plan to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the U.S. in the coming year, saying officials have determined that can be done “safely (and) consistent with our national security.”

McCrory appeared on Fox News Tuesday morning to defend his call.

“My number one responsibility is to protect the citizens of North Carolina,” McCrory told Fox. “And by the way, the president’s number one responsibility is to protect the people of the United States.”

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 2:31 PM with the headline "N.C. GOP leaders back McCrory on refugees."