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Judge Rejects Texas Bid to Halt Refugees

Last of 21 to arrive in Houston on Thursday.

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected the latest effort by Texas to block Syrian refugees from resettling in the state. U.S. District Judge David Godbey criticized the state for arguing “largely speculative hearsay” that allowing refugees to resettle poses a risk of extremists infiltrating the state and committing acts of terrorism. The last of 21 Syrian refugees, many of whom are children under the age of 15, are expected to arrive in Houston on Thursday. Nearly 30 states have vowed to ban Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks, but Texas is the only one to take the U.S. government to court in an aggressive campaign to block resettlements.