Syrian refugee family settles in Connecticut after being denied entry in Indiana

Less than 24 hours before a Syrian family was set to arrive in Indiana, the head of the state's division of family resources shared an important message with Exodus Refugee Immigration in Indianapolis on Tuesday: Indiana planned to have the arrival of the refugees "suspended or redirected to another state that is willing to accept Syrian placements."

The group's executive director quickly started making calls, and finally it was agreed that the family could go to New Haven, Connecticut, where they are now living in temporary housing until a permanent home can be found. "It's the right thing for us to do to respond to this tragedy," Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) said. "We have an obligation to the other nations of the world to do our part." The family — a mother, father, and 5-year-old son — had been living in a refugee camp in Jordan after fleeing their home in Homs, Syria, and waited three years to gain entry to the United States. The family has asked it not be identified, as they fear for the safety of their relatives still living in Syria.

Malloy said he had "no security concerns at all about Connecticut and these folks," and Chris George, the executive director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, agreed. "These people have been screened by Homeland Security and they should be welcomed here," he told ABC News. "It's the American thing to do. It's the right thing to do."

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