Speakers said of the more than 4 million Syrians who have fled their country, fewer than 2,000 have been resettled in the United States since 2011.
Advertisement
It would require that no refugee from Syria or Iraq be admitted unless the FBI director certifies there has been a background investigation and – together with the Homeland Security secretary and director of National Intelligence – that the individual refugee is not a security threat to the U.S.
The White House on Saturday defended how the United States accepts Syrian refugees, telling Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad the security process is “extraordinarily thorough and comprehensive”.
Republicans in the race to be on the ballot in the November 2016 presidential election also debated the issue, with Donald Trump saying he would implement a database to keep track of Muslims in the United States, and Ben Carson comparing refugees to “rabid dogs”. But the majority in the House was large enough that it could override President Obama’s promised veto if it got to his desk.
The legislation, passed by a vote of 289-137, was rushed through in response to last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris.
Comey has expressed deep concerns about the bill, two US officials informed CNN.
Honduras said on Wednesday it had detained five Syrians seeking to reach the United States for traveling on doctored Greek passports, but authorities in the Central American country said the men did not belong to “any terrorist cell” and four were college students. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said a hold on allowing more refugees may be needed, but others like Sen. Forty-seven Democrats voted for the bill, despite President Barack Obama’s biting criticism of its proposed limits. Dozens joined Republicans in supporting the legislation, some fretting openly of being put in the politically untenable position of opposing what they considered a reasonable anti-terror bill in the wake of a horrendous tragedy.
As your congressman, I refuse to allow President Obama to open our front door to radical Islamic extremists who are bent on burning down our house.
“The Republican bill 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”.
“It is unclear how many Christians have left the country; however, it is estimated that they make up a small percentage of the Syrian refugee population”. Most of the refugees, they add, are families, children and victims of torture.
The bill’s supporters said the legislation would help ensure that Islamic State terrorists will not slip into the USA along with refugees.
President Obama plans to bring in up to 10,000 Syrian refugees over the next year.
Advertisement
Polls are showing public support for a halt to the settlement of Syrian refugees.
