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ACLU Sues Indiana Gov. Pence For Blocking Syrian Refugees

Mike Pence
Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons
Mike Pence

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is being sued for blocking Syrian refugees from resettling in Indiana.

The Indianapolis Star reports that the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the lawsuit Monday night on behalf of Indianapolis-based nonprofit Exodus Refugee Immigration. It accuses Pence of violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by accepting refugees from other countries but not from Syria.

The lawsuit comes about a week after Pence objected to plans for refugees to arrive in Indiana following the deadly attacks in Paris. A family that fled war-torn Syria was diverted from Indianapolis to Connecticut on Nov. 18 when Pence ordered state agencies to halt resettlement activities.

Pence has said that he opposes the resettlement of Syrian refugees in his state until he can be assured that proper security measures are in place. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last week calling for stricter security measures for Syrian refugees to enter the U.S.

An official from Pence's office didn't return the newspaper's request for comment late Monday.

(Featured image via Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons)