As we hear more and more today about how evil state governors are for daring to hit the pause button on the resettlement of Syrian refugees inside of their states until vetting issues can be addressed, let’s keep in mind that the United States faced a very similar situation in 1980 during the “Mariel boatlift.”
At that time, President Jimmy Carter decided to house thousands of Cuban refugees in Arkansas at Ft. Chaffee. Refugees at the base revolted and some escaped, leading then Governor Bill Clinton to take action:
In 1980 in Arkansas, Bill Clinton threatened to close off state-owned road to Ft. Chaffee after Cuban refugee revolt https://t.co/qiZr1ktv5X
— Miller Center (@Miller_Center) November 16, 2015
And he deployed the National Guard to provide additional security:
Bill Clinton ordered the National Guard deployed at Ft Chaffee http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4248
— Scott Groves (@ScottGrovesCO) December 11, 2010
From ArkansasOnline.com:
An Arkansas State Trooper raises a billy club as he and other state policemen divert Cubans from the highway after the refugees left Fort Chaffee early Sunday, June 1, 1980.
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The Ft. Chafee riot was an issue in Clinton’s re-election and is often cited as one of the reasons he lost to Republican Frank White:
Why did Govs say they don't want #SyrianRefugees they may recall Bill Clinton's loss after Cubans airlifted to Ft Chaffee. #riot
— Carl Gottlieb (@c_cgottlieb) November 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/justinwmmoyer/status/666589403142332416
“I was sinking in the quicksand of Cubans.” But it’s OK because a Dem said it, right media?
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