Ten Nebraska lawmakers, led by state Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, sponsored a resolution Monday saying they "believe in protecting refugees" regardless of religion.
"Many refugees have earned green cards and call this country home, and others have been shown, through extensive vetting, to bear good will toward our nation," the resolution states. "Refugees include people fleeing war and oppression and include children and families in need of safety."
It also notes that refugees "serve our military and diplomatic interests and work, volunteer and contribute to Nebraska communities every day."
The resolution (LR27) wouldn't carry the weight of law but will receive a public hearing and would amount to a formal statement by the Legislature if approved.
Bolz said she wrote it in her Capitol office Sunday while more than 300 people rallied outside the building to protest President Donald Trump's refugee ban.
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"I think that the practical impacts have been concerning," Bolz said Monday.
Her resolution is cosigned by Lincoln Sens. Matt Hansen, Adam Morfeld, Patty Pansing Brooks and Anna Wishart; Omaha Sens. Sara Howard, Rick Kolowski, John McCollister and Tony Vargas; and Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue.Â
Gov. Pete Ricketts defended Trump's ban, calling Nebraska a "welcoming state" which has taken in "more than our proportional share of refugees."
Ricketts was among nearly two dozen governors who called for a halt to Syrian refugee resettlement in 2015.
"There's going to be problems when you implement new systems," he told reporters Monday. "I think they're taking steps to address some of the problems they saw over the weekend."
Later, Ricketts issued a statement saying he urged then-President Barack Obama to "strengthen vetting of refugees, but he took no action."
"I strongly support President Trump’s efforts to strengthen security screening in the refugee resettlement process," the statement said. "I urge the White House to quickly put new vetting processes in place, so we can continue to safely welcome refugees from all parts of the world."