AUGUSTA — Gov. Paul LePage said Monday that he will oppose any effort by the federal government to settle Syrian refugees in Maine after Friday’s terrorist attacks in Paris.

LePage joined other Republican governors in condemning President Barack Obama’s goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year, saying to do so “without knowing who they are is to invite an attack on American soil just like the one we saw in Paris last week.”

“That is why I adamantly oppose any attempt by the federal government to place Syrian refugees in Maine,” he said in a statement on Monday afternoon, “and will take every lawful measure in my power to prevent it from happening.”

LePage’s formal opposition to resettling Syrian refugees in Maine came after conflicting statements from LePage and his office on Monday, when Republican governors announced they wouldn’t be helping Obama achieve his goal.

LePage’s stance is largely symbolic. Governors can’t refuse refugees and have little authority on immigration, which is controlled by the federal government. Only one Syrian refugee has settled in Maine since 2014 and new arrivals wouldn’t come for at least a year, according to Catholic Charities, which settles new refugees in Maine for the federal government.

More than 4 million Syrian refugees have fled their country, which is in the midst of a civil war. Of those, 150,000 Syrian refugees are declaring asylum in European Union countries, according to the Migration Policy Centre in Italy.

That war has been complicated by the Islamic State, the terrorist group that claimed responsibility for the attacks that killed 129 in Paris and has taken over large swaths of Syria and Iraq. The Greek government has said one attacker passed through their country with a group of 69 refugees in October.

In Turkey on Monday, Obama called Syrian refugees “the people most harmed by terrorism” and warned against “equating the issue of refugees with the issue of terrorism” in a speech in Turkey on Monday, when the Democrat’s State Department rejected a call from congressional Republicans to halt plans to admit more Syrian refugees.

LePage’s statement clarified two different messages from his office earlier on Monday.

His weekly radio address criticized Obama’s plan, but it didn’t say whether he would join other governors in fighting resettlement efforts. However, he told reporters on Monday that his position is the “same thing” and he’s “with them” because he’s “concerned for Maine people.”

Alison Beyea, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine, said the group was “saddened by calls from our governor and others to turn our back on the world’s most vulnerable people.”

“If we shut out refugees fleeing the horror and violence of extremists in Syria, we are refusing to help the victims of the very terrorism we decry,” she said in a statement.

UPDATE: Gov. Paul LePage released this statement Monday afternoon:

“The thoughts and prayers of the First Lady and I are with the People of France as they mourn those killed in Friday’s despicable terrorist attack in Paris. As Franco-Americans, we say with a special conviction, ‘nous n’oublierons jamais—‘we will never forget.’”

We now know that not only has ISIS claimed credit for this attack, but at least one of the attackers was a Syrian refugee. We also know that President Barack Obama has vowed to bring 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States, despite his own FBI director testifying to Congress last month that the federal government is unable to conduct background checks on them.

To bring Syrian refugees into our country without knowing who they are is to invite an attack on American soil just like the one we saw in Paris last week and in New York City on 9/11. That is why I adamantly oppose any attempt by the federal government to place Syrian refugees in Maine, and will take every lawful measure in my power to prevent it from happening.

The safety of Maine citizens comes first, and it is about time the United States and Europe wake up to the nature of the threat against us in the form of radical terrorism.”

Text of Gov. Paul LePage’s radio address

President Obama said he will allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into our country within the next year, and his staff is confident in the federal government’s screening process.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, the President’s actions are irresponsible.

Hello, this is Governor Paul LePage.

Several Governors have already stated concerns about Syrian refugees resettling in the U.S. Two Governors will not agree to relocate Syrian refugees in their states. Unfortunately, we do not know for certain if Maine has any Syrian refugees at this time.

While the President has expressed confidence in the U.S. screening process, some have pointed out the gaping holes in our immigration policy.

Rep. Mike McCaul of Texas is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. He says there is no way to vet refugees because there are no databases to do such a thing.

McCaul said the Obama Administration lacks the names of 5,000 or more foreign fighters around the world—these are very dangerous people who pose serious threats on a global scale.

One of the first actions I took as Governor was to ensure Maine is no longer a sanctuary state that harbors illegal aliens. It’s important to follow federal law, and we work with law enforcement and other agencies to assist the federal government on immigration matters.

As a free state and country, we are always vulnerable to attack. The safety of our citizens comes first. We need responsible immigration policies to protect not only Americans, but all people.

The terrorist attacks in France are a tragic reminder of the dangerous world we live in. It is my responsibility as Governor to protect the people of Maine with the resources I have available. Staff from my office has reached out to the Consulate General of France in Boston to offer any assistance on behalf of the State of Maine.

The Maine Department of Public Safety and Maine Emergency Management Agency are working with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies to monitor any possible threats.

This is not a time to incite panic or fear. But I remind Mainers to stay alert to your surroundings and to report any suspicious activity.

You can make a report by calling 877-786-3636. That’s 877-786-3636.

On behalf of all Mainers, we offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families in Paris. An attack on our allies in France is considered an assault on the United States, and we stand together in condemning all acts of terrorism in friendly nations and around the world.

Thank you for listening.