Madison Mayor Paul Soglin

MADISON, Wis. – Madison Mayor Paul Soglin said if Syrian refugees end up in Madison, the city will welcome them.

“If the president makes a request, we will certainly honor it and work with the administration to do the truly humane thing, which is to place the refugees from wherever they come, Syria or anywhere else,” Soglin said.

Soglin said there are some risks, but between the U.S. government and the city of Madison, there will be proper vetting to minimize risk.

“When you look at the pictures of the children and the families, and these are families no different than we are, simply trying to stay alive, keep their children alive, we would certainly be a participant in helping,” Soglin said.

He said he and other mayors will be on a conference call Thursday with the White House to get more information.