A proposal from a Tennessee Representative about removing Syrian refugees from the state has put lawmakers and immigrant rights groups up in arms.
The governors of 30 states have asked the federal government to reconsider resettling 10,000 refugees in their states.
A Tennessee lawmaker has said, existing refugees should be "gathered up" and turned in to the federal government.
Thompson's Station Republican Representative Glen Casada said Tennessee could use the National Guard to pick up Syrian refugees who have recently settled here and turn them over to U.S. immigrations.
The comments came as people feared the attacks in Paris, could soon be happening in the U.S. Rep. Casada said recently settled Syrian refugees in Tennessee should be sent back to the federal government.
"We gather them. We take them back to ICE. I think they're based in New Orleans. We take them back to ICE, back to the federal government and we say gentlemen make sure these guys have no ties to terrorist activity. That's all I'm saying," he said.
Casada defended his statement by referring to an ISIS operative and the director of the FBI.
The terrorist group has claimed to have smuggled thousands of ISIS gunmen into Europe by hiding them among innocent refugees.
Casada's comments drew heavy criticism from immigrant rights groups and Democrats.
Eben Cathey with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition said, "Rep. Casada's comments are deeply disturbing. This is the United States of America. We don't round people up."
Nashville Democratic Representative Jason Powell said, "The preposterous idea that we'd use the national guard to go round up individuals who are here in our state is repulsive to me as an American, and it's repulsive to me as a Christian."
Casada also advocated breaking the law to stop the federal government from sending Syrian refugees to Tennessee.
Casada said, "I am calling for civil disobedience in order to protect the lives and the property of Tennesseans, and that has consequences."
Memphis Democratic Representative Joe Towns said, "That's irresponsible conversation. You're going to talk about civil disobedience for that? When we can manage the problem. That makes no sense. That's not leadership quality. That's absurd."
