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Detroit Mayor Recommits To Taking 50 Syrian Refugee Families A Year: 'We Haven't Wavered On That'

DETROIT (WWJ) - Mayor Mike Duggan on Monday renewed his commitment to host 50 Syrian refugee families a year in the city.

Duggan was part of a White House conference call with Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Austin, Texas Mayor Steve Adler focused on the nation's refugee screening process.

Duggan was in the mix because of his steadfast commitment to accepting Syrian refugees in Detroit.

"I think the (Obama) administration has vetted individuals thoroughly, but I have said to the administration Detroit is in a position to take 50 families a year for each of the next three years," said Duggan. "We haven't wavered on that."

"...If  you're gonna be human you can't look at these stories and not say people who are fleeing terror ought to have somebody welcome them," the mayor added, "and Detroit's gonna do our share."

Duggan's comments come one week after Michigan's Republican governor, Rick Snyder — who previously bucked many party leaders by welcoming Syrian refugees — put the efforts on hold following the deadly attacks in Paris.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama, whose administration recently pledged to accept about 10,000 Syrian refugees, argues that the U.S. needs to allow them because many are fleeing terrorism.

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