Indiana's attorney general is officially appealing a federal judge's ruling that the state can't block funds from Syrian refugees coming to Indiana.
Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed a notice of appeal Tuesday. He is also requesting a stay on the judge's decision until the appeals court rules on the case.
In his request for a stay, the attorney general argues the potential harm to Hoosiers outweighs the potential harm to Exodus Refugee Immigration, the organization that brought the lawsuit.
"This Order threatens injury to the Defendants because it leaves the State unable to protect its citizens against potential terrorists who might pose as refugees fleeing Syria by deterring resettlement of such refugees in Indiana," Zoeller wrote in his motion.
Governor Mike Pence ordered state agencies to stop resettling Syrian refugees in November after terrorist attacks in Paris. Pence said he wants more assurances from the federal government that proper screening measures are in place to vet out potential terrorists.
Exodus settled a family of four Syrian refugees despite Pence's orders. They plan to continue with resettlement efforts even if they eventually lose grant funding.