Texas lawsuit seeks to block resettlement of Syrian refugees

Action names John Kerry as a defendant and claims duty to consult state has been violated

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has filed a lawsuit in a federal court seeking to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state. Photograph: Kilic Bulent/AFP/Getty Images.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has filed a lawsuit in a federal court seeking to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state. Photograph: Kilic Bulent/AFP/Getty Images.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has filed a lawsuit in a federal court seeking to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state.

The suit, which names US secretary of state John Kerry, the US state department and others as defendants, said the state is seeking an injunction to halt the resettlement.

It argues the defendants are violating their “statutory duty to consult with the state in advance of placing refugees in Texas.”

Reuters