Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a “pause” in the acceptance of Syrian refugees into the United States after the terror attacks in Paris last Friday launched by ISIS.
“It’s important that we have a refugee system in place; we respect that,” Ryan told reporters, “But it is simply prudent, that for this particular program and in this particular situation that we be better guarded against any possible penetration of ISIS coming through this program… This is not about politics. This is about national security.”
Ryan also declared publicly that he is creating a task force made up of the Republican chairmen from the Homeland Security, Armed Services, Intelligence, Appropriations, Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees to devise legislation about the refugee issue and produce additional homeland security recommendations. The House is expected to vote on legislation on Thursday.
McConnell commented to reporters, “I, for one, don’t feel particularly comforted by the assertion that our government can vet these refugees… At the very least it strikes me that we need a pause or a moratorium because the American people are quite concerned and upset by the possibility of terrorist coming into our country through some sort of refugee program.”
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters that the bill would suspend the U.S. program allowing refugees from Syria to enter the country until the Secretary of the Homeland Security Department certifies that those wanting to resettle in the U.S. do not pose a security threat. The proposal also requires that the FBI certify that those applying to enter the U.S. have had background checks.
According to an infographic published by CNN, more than half the nation’s governors say Syrian refugees not welcome. All states except one have republican governors.
Obama administration officials were scheduled to brief senators on the intricacies of the vetting program in a closed session last Wednesday.