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Connecticut Community Leaders Address Refugee Crisis and Resettlement

Dominic Chavez
/
World Bank

In a 289 to 137 vote last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would tighten the vetting process for refugees from Syria and Iraq. The measure passed despite a veto threat from President Barack Obama -- a threat Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan says "baffles" him.

This hour, we take a closer look at the ongoing debate over refugee resettlement. We also consider Connecticut's role in helping those displaced by conflict.

GUESTS:

  • Lucy Nalpathanchil - WNPR host and reporter
  • Dr. Saud Anwar - South Windsor town council member; Connecticut's first Muslim mayor 
  • Mark Boughton - Mayor of Danbury, Connecticut
  • Nour Alfares - Syrian refugee and medical case manager at Catholic Charities
  • Mongi Dhaouadi - Executive director of the Connecticut chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations
  • Rev. Julia Burkey - Minister at First Church in Middletown, Connecticut, United Church of Christ

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

John Dankosky and Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.