“The officials briefed the governors on the rigorous screening and security vetting process that is required before a refugee is able to travel to the United States”, the statement said.
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At least 30 governors, mostly Republicans, have said they will not allow Syrian refugees in their states after Alabama and Michigan’s leaders became the first to do so Sunday.
Several Republicans said they wanted a vote as soon as this week on legislation to halt Obama’s plan.
Individual certification for these refugees, who already undergo a screening process that can take between 18 and 24 months and involves multiple US security agencies, is likely to slow that process down even further.
The White House sought Tuesday to reassure USA governors concerned about accepting Syrian refugees following the attacks in Paris, explaining during a conference call how the refugees are screened and prioritized for entry.
“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.
But Republicans cite recent testimony from Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey, who told Congress in October the government is unable to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of Syrian refugees who are fleeing a war-torn nation.
“The notion you would put on pause the that we would welcome refugees fleeing the violence is not true to who we are as a country and it is also not true to who we are as a city”, Emanuel said.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee will also hold a hearing Thursday on the impact of the refugee crisis on the security of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program as a whole.
“I can not think of a more potent recruitment tool for Isil than a few of the rhetoric that’s been coming out of here during the course of this debate”, he said, using another name for Islamic State.
Governors don’t actually have the power to decide who moves to their states once accepted into the country by the federal government. “And it’s our obligation”, Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin said on the House floor ahead of the veto threat.
“We adhere to Judeo-Christian principles and stand ready to help those in need, but not at the expense of the safety and security of our own people”, Patrick said.
Obama’s comments during a meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino marked his harshest condemnation yet of Republicans’ response to the Paris attacks blamed on IS that killed 129 people last week.
He added that the State Department prioritizes the most vulnerable groups of people and that half of all Syrian refugees are children.
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Preventing a few thousand refugees from resettling in SC or anywhere else in the United States will not protect us from terrorists.
