Montpelier, Vt. – Governor Phil Scott today issued the following statement:
“Many of our Afghan friends and neighbors served side by side with Americans fighting terrorists in their homeland and both they and their families faced extreme danger in doing so. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with members of the Afghan refugee community and continue to believe we’ve done the right thing and should continue to welcome vetted refugees to Vermont and encourage them to pursue citizenship. These individuals have an extraordinary track record of achieving economic independence and making positive contributions in our communities. I’m proud of them and of the Vermonters who have stepped up to help them build stable, independent lives.
The shooting in Washington D.C. is a painful reminder that people can become violent for inexplicable reasons, especially those involved in warfare, although there’s no excuse for what happened. It’s also not fair to cast blame on an entire group of people who are doing the best they can to integrate into our communities and follow the American dream.
I want to be equally clear that, it’s also reasonable and prudent for the federal government to investigate to be sure there are no additional security concerns or vulnerabilities in our systems. It is important that America have a secure, compassionate, legal immigration system that prioritizes protecting our allies when they need us most.”