Ducey: No new refugees into Arizona

He made the declaration in a statement this morning citing the "horrifying events in Paris."

Ducey cited a provision of federal law which he said entitles him to "immediate consultation by federal authorities" of plans to resettle any refugees in the state. He also demanded the federal government "take into account the concerns and recommendations of the state of Arizona as they are required to under federal law, in our efforts to keep our homeland safe."

The effort is being made by several GOP governors in light of reports that at least one of the suicide bombers in Paris had slipped into Europe from Syria as a refugee.

But Ducey says it's his right to demand there be no refugees here — and his statement — is not limited to Syrians.

The governor said he wants federal legislation to give states "greater oversight and authority in the administration of the placement of refugees."

"These acts serve as a reminder that the world remains at war with radical Islamic terrorists," the governor said. "Our national leaders must react with the urgency and leadership that every American expects to protect our citizens."

Ducey's demand drew derision from Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, the No. 2 Democrat in the state Senate.

"I believe the governor is empowering terrorists by forbidding any refugees from coming to our state," he said.

Farley said that only plays into the hands of terrorists, dividing Americans from each other, especially those who are Muslim.

"The fact is, these refugees that he's banning from Arizona are running away from these terrorists that are attacking in Paris," he said, people whose homes were bombed and relatives killed by the Islamic State.

Ducey's criticism is similar to statements by Texas’ Greg Abbott and Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal.

President Barack Obama responded testily Monday to opponents of admitting Syrian refugees to the U.S., taking aim at some GOP presidential candidates for saying only Christian refugees should have asylum.

But Obama stood by U.S. plans to admit refugees fleeing the civil war and the insurgents known as the Islamic State in Syria.

“When I hear folks say that maybe we should just admit the Christians but no the Muslims, when I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which person who is fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted, when some of those folks themselves come from families who benefited from protection when they were fleeing political persecution, that’s shameful,” Obama said at a news conference in Turkey where he was attending the G-20 summit.

“That’s not American. That’s not who we are.”

The White House has committed to accepting at least 10,000 Syrian refugees.

The McClatchy Washington Bureau contributed to this story.