Georgia Governor Rescinds Executive Order Banning Syrian Refugees from Resettlement Benefits

On January 4, 2016, Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia rescinded an executive order he issued in November banning Syrian refugees from resettlement benefits. In December 2015, NCLEJ sent a letter to counsel representing Georgia’s Division of Family Services asking that the agency cease and desist from refusing to process food stamp applications from Syrian refugees as agency staff had been instructed to do following the Governor’s executive order. NCLEJ is gratified that the State of Georgia is now obeying civil rights and food stamp laws by allowing Syrian refugees to seek benefits that they are eligible to receive.