Wednesday Letters: Rauner exploiting Syrian refugee crisis

Our esteemed governor, Bruce Rauner, still thinks he’s a CEO running a corporation. He and other mostly Republican governors have presumed to prohibit Syrian refugees from living in their states. Obviously, the governors are ignorant of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the federal government — the President and Congress — sole jurisdiction on refugee matters. Once a refugee is granted asylum in the United States, no state law can prohibit their movement. The governors are blowing hot air, trying to capitalize on the deaths of 129 people in Paris for strictly political reasons. They should be ashamed, especially Gov. Rauner, who should know better.

Silvio J. Anichini, Edgewater

A new low in fear-mongering

Not only are those governors who attempt to block Syrian refugees absolutely un-American, they are also further isolating us from any reasonable community of nations. The refugees were suffering atrocities at the hands of ISIS and the Bashar al-Assad regime long before the attacks in Beirut and Paris. This demonstrates an incredible new low in Republican fear-mongering — an utterly crass attempt to use the tragedy of others for political gain. It is beyond shameful.

Michael Hart, West Ridge