OLYMPIA -- Washington shouldn't accept Syrian refugees until the federal government can convince the state its safe, a group of 14 Republican state senators told Gov. Jay Inslee Wednesday. 

On Tuesday Inslee said he talked with federal officials and was confident that they had strong safeguards in place to screen refugees. A day later, the lawmakers wrote a letter saying the state should wait. 

"Until we learn of the steps the president is taking to guarantee none of the refugees is a would-be terrorist, we urge you to  notify the federal government that Washington must pause before it will take Syrian refugees," said the group, which includes Spokane-area Sens. Mike Padden, of Spokane Valley, and Mark Schoesler, of Ritzville. "We, like you, consider Washington state to be welcoming and gracious, especially to those who come here, legally, from war-torn regions. But not at the expense of the safety of the citizens of the state."

The public no longer has confidence the federal government can vet refugees and keep terrorists from coming into the country, they said. "Tough questions need to be asked."

Although Inslee has said Washington will continue with a tradition that dates back 40 years of welcoming refugees from war-torn areas, many other governors have said they won't allow Syrian refugees in their states. Legal experts say,  however, that states have no say in the matter because immigration is under federal jurisdiction. Federal officials have estimated the country will accept 10,000 Syrian refugees, but that it might take up to a year to before they are screened and ready for resettlement.

Chris Vance, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate in next year's election, said Obama should "halt the flow of Syrian refugees into the United States" until he can assure state officials terrorists won't use the program to enter the country. 

---

---