Mayor Steinberg Responds To Trump Administration, Confirming Sacramento Will Accept Refugees

In response to a presidential order, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg notified the federal government Friday that Sacramento will continue to accept refugees under a federally-funded program.

Steinberg's letter confirmed that the city of Sacramento will continue to welcome refugees who receive assistance under the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program. The letter allows people admitted to the U.S. to settle in the city and receive assistance from the federal government. 

A presidential order from September gave cities and counties 90 days to say if they wanted refugees.

"The problem with the overall policy, of course, is it's going to give license to many states and cities to not accept refugees, which means fewer victims of violence and terror in other countries will be able to gain admission to the United States," Steinberg said

In the letter, Steinberg wrote, “We are proud to be one of the nation’s most welcoming cities for refugees. It’s our city ethic, our tradition and our obligation as Americans.”

In the executive order, the president said the reason for the request for affirmation was to avoid settling refugees in places that are not “eager and equipped to support their successful integration into American society and the labor force."

In Tennessee, one state lawmaker has authored legislation that would require cities and counties in the state to pass a resolution accepting refugees into their communities.

Seattle, Washington, and Alexandria, Virginia, have already served notice they will be accepting refugees.

A Pew Research Center study says the U.S. will admit the fewest number of refugees since the program started in 1980.  

The White House did not respond to a request for comment on Steinberg’s letter.