Syrian Refugees should NOT be accepted in Colorado

DENVER – Colorado will not join the growing number of states that have refused to accept Syrian refugees in wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Monday.

"We will work with the federal government and Homeland Security to ensure the national verification processes for refugees are as stringent as possible," he wrote in a statement. "We can protect our security and provide a place where the world's most vulnerable can rebuild their lives."

Michigan and Alabama were the first states to say they would not accept Syrian refugees in wake of the attacks. There are now 23 states whose governors have indicated they will refuse Syrian refugees.

It isn't clear if any states have the authority to refuse refugees sent there by the federal government.

About 2,000 refugees come to Colorado for resettlement every year. The Colorado Refugee Services Program said it's unclear how many Syrian refugees are coming in the next wave, but experts say it could be a lot more since so many states are trying to close their borders.

If the U.S. decides to close its door to Syrian refugees, there may be consequences that could include driving the refugees back to ISIS controlled territories, according to DU professor Nader Hashemi.

The terrorism expert also says there's a chance that refusing refugees could create more problems in the Middle East.

At least 132 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a series of coordinated attacks in Paris Friday evening. According to French prosecutors, a bomber who targeted the national stadium was found with a Syrian passport – prompting security concerns from some U.S. officials.

The vast majority of Syrian refugees have gone to Europe or neighboring countries. The U.S. accepted 1,854 Syrian refugees through September – a number the Obama administration says could increase to 100,000 by 2017, USA TODAY reports.

USA TODAY contributed to this report.