US town reverses itself and says no to refugees
US town reverses itself and says no to refugees
A proposal to welcome refugees into an American town has been revoked after residents resisted the idea of having Middle Eastern refugees as neighbours.
1 min read
Since October 2011, America has admitted fewer than 2,180 Syrian refugees [Getty]
A resolution to welcome refugees into an American farming town has been overturned after residents resisted the idea of having Middle Eastern refugees as neighbours and called for a referendum on the matter.
The votes of the month-long referendum in Louise, Mississippi, were counted on Tuesday.
The tally was 37 against and three in favour of welcoming refugees, according to Mayor Thomas Ruffin Smith.
Following the vote count, the board of aldermen rescinded the resolution.
In November, at the height of a national debate over whether Syrian refugees should be welcomed, the Mississippi Delta town's board had passed a resolution to welcome refugees, calling it a "Christian duty."
At the time, the town's decree was a rare show of warmth toward refugees.
Syrian refugees have become a political football in US election season, with Republicans determined to stop Obama's pledge to resettle 10,000 this year.
Since October 2011, America has admitted fewer than 2,180 Syrian refugees. Turkey has taken in two million, Lebanon more than one million and Jordan more than 500,000.
The votes of the month-long referendum in Louise, Mississippi, were counted on Tuesday.
The tally was 37 against and three in favour of welcoming refugees, according to Mayor Thomas Ruffin Smith.
Following the vote count, the board of aldermen rescinded the resolution.
In November, at the height of a national debate over whether Syrian refugees should be welcomed, the Mississippi Delta town's board had passed a resolution to welcome refugees, calling it a "Christian duty."
At the time, the town's decree was a rare show of warmth toward refugees.
Syrian refugees have become a political football in US election season, with Republicans determined to stop Obama's pledge to resettle 10,000 this year.
Since October 2011, America has admitted fewer than 2,180 Syrian refugees. Turkey has taken in two million, Lebanon more than one million and Jordan more than 500,000.
![Palestine sat next to member states at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday [GETTY]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_684x385/public/1441455581.jpeg?h=199d8c1f&itok=CgJaFY6v)
