The bill steers clear of demands from some Republicans, including presidential candidates, for religious screenings or a complete end to the US refugee program. On Tuesday, White House officials hosted a call with 34 governors to better explain current security screening measures.
Advertisement
Reps. Adam Schiff, of California, Bennie Thompson, of MS, and Zoe Lofgren, of California, who are the top Democrats on the Intelligence and Homeland Security committees and the Judiciary committee’s Immigration and Border Security subcommittee, respectively, said the GOP bill would keep out Iraqi and Syrian refugees for years.
“After full consideration of this weekend’s attacks of terror on innocent citizens in Paris, I will oppose any attempt to relocate Syrian refugees to Alabama through the US Refugee Admissions Program”.
Millions of Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries and to Europe.
Republican leaders in the US Senate are also looking at the issue, but no decisions have been made, according to one Senate aide. “What we’ve essentially said is ‘we’re not collaborating with you'”. But the White House countered that the legislation would “introduce unnecessary and impractical requirements that would unacceptably hamper our efforts to assist some of the most vulnerable people in the world, many of whom are victims of terrorism, and would undermine our partners in the Middle East and Europe in addressing the Syrian refugee crisis”. “America can ensure our own security while welcoming refugees desperately seeking safety from ISIL”.
Dayton said Republican governors opposing refugees is “showmanship” by governors “who have no expertise in the area”.
Syrian refugees were the subject of a briefing from various federal agencies to US governors on Tuesday.
“President Obama’s own Federal Bureau of Investigation director stated last month in congressional testimony that there are gaps in the screening process of Syrian refugees”, Lloyd said in an email statement to AP.
Moreover, 26 governors, including one Democrat, have warned they would try to block the refugees’ entry into their states.
White House press secretary took to the morning news circuit on Wednesday to defend both President Obama’s “Islamic State Group”, or ISIS, policy, and plans to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States.
The vote to establish Chicago as a sanctuary city came in response to Rauner’s opposition to the state taking in new Syrian refugees.
“I heard from White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and other federal officials today about the stringent vetting process that foreign refugees go through before ever entering the United States”, said Governor Walker. Most, if not all, of the perpetrators of the Paris attacks were French.
Low-income refugee families with children may be eligible for temporary assistance for needy families, a welfare program in which state rules govern eligibility and the amount of money families receive, for up to five years. His comments may lead to comparisons to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq ordered by his brother, former President George W. Bush.
Advertisement
The US President said the idea was “political posturing” that runs against United States values.
