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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois Moratorium On Syrian Refugees Is Request For 'Deep Breath' To Obama Admin

Carl Nelson/WNIJ

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner says his moratorium on Syrian refugees resettling in Illinois is simply a request for the Obama administration to “take a deep breath.”

Rauner says the request is to tighten the review process to make sure Washington shares necessary information with the states.

Refugee-resettlement groups say Rauner has no authority to stop incoming Syrians. They say U.S. screening is exacting, and there's very little chance a terrorist will sneak through.

An Associated Press analysis shows the federal government allocated $55 million to Illinois for refugee services since 2012. The state spent more than half of it so far.

The state Department of Human Services says 169 Syrians settled in Illinois since 2010.