EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 14

WHEREAS, Article V, Section 113 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 establishes that the supreme executive power of this State shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate who shall be styled “the Governor of the State of Alabama”;

WHEREAS, the grant of “supreme executive authority” to the Governor carries the charge that the Governor “take care that the laws be faithfully executed”;

WHEREAS, the Alabama Constitution establishes that during times of emergency or threat of emergency, the Governor has emergency powers to protect the citizens and property of the State of Alabama;

WHEREAS, when the threat of an emergency is foreseeable, it is prudent to implement common sense and precautionary measures to prevent the occurrence of an emergency which threatens the life and property of Alabama citizens;

WHEREAS, on Friday, November 13, 2015, more than 120 people were killed and 350 others wounded in a coordinated series of terrorist attacks in Paris, France;

WHEREAS, these attacks were conducted by Islamic extremists, at least one of them a recent Syrian refugee, and the radical terrorist group, Islamic State (ISIS), claimed responsibility;

WHEREAS, the Director of the FBI has testified to Congress that the federal government does not have the background information that is necessary to effectively conduct security checks on Syrian nationals;

WHEREAS, as your Governor, I will oppose any attempt to relocate Syrian refugees to Alabama through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and I will not stand complicit to a policy that places the citizens of Alabama in harm’s way; and

WHEREAS, it is foreseeable that the introduction of Syrian refugees into the United States without proper prior screening and follow-up monitoring could result in a threat to the citizens and property of Alabama.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of the State of Alabama, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Alabama, and for other good and valid reasons, do hereby order and direct as follows:

BE IT ORDERED, that all departments, budget units, agencies, offices, entities, and officers of the executive branch of the State of Alabama are authorized and directed to utilize all lawful means to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the State of Alabama until this order is rescinded;

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that I am directing the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama Department of Public Health not to participate in the resettlement of any Syrian refugees in the State of Alabama;

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), upon receiving information that a Syrian refugee is already located within the State of Alabama, is authorized and directed to utilize all lawful means to monitor and avert threats within the State of Alabama;

BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that this Executive Order is effective November 16, 2015, and shall remain in effect until amended or rescinded by the Governor, or terminated by operation of law.

DONE AND ORDERED, this the 16th day of November, 2015.

Robert Bentley
Governor

ATTEST:

John H. Merrill
Secretary of State