ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal says the state will 'find out' whether he has the authority to prevent Syrian refugees from being resettled here.
Deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he doesn't expect the Obama administration to cooperate but has spoken with Republican members of Congress from Georgia and urged them to take action.
Deal on Monday issued an order directing state agency heads to prevent resettlement. Experts said governors across the U.S. making similar threats don't have that authority.
Deal stopped short of agreeing with calls by some Republican presidential candidates to give preference to Christian refugees. He said state officials don't know who the Syrian refugees are or where they live.
U.S. State Department records indicate 57 Syrian refugees have resettled in Georgia since Jan. 1.
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