Alabama Appeals Federal Refugee Decision

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley is appealing the dismissal of the state’s lawsuit against the federal government over refugee placement.

The governor’s office said the appeal was filed Tuesday with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Bentley in January asked a federal judge to block refugees from coming to the state unless federal officials provided a full background check and medical information on each refugee. A magistrate judge said that there was “nothing in the Refugee Act” that required federal officials to give states that information.

A judge dismissed a similar Texas lawsuit, ruling states had no authority over resettlements handled by the federal government.