The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
Our country has long served as a welcoming beacon to individuals and families who seek safety and refugee status within the borders of the United States. For years we have been proud to welcome refugees into our communities in their pursuit of a better life and future.
However, we are deeply concerned that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria may have exploited the generosity of the refugee system to carry out Friday’s terrorist attack in Paris. While the tragic event was a direct assault on the European Union’s refugee system, the potential for this situation to arise in the United States is escalated by information revealed by the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, James Comey. In testimony before Congress, he admitted to certain inadequacies in the system that would prevent the thorough vetting of the 10,000 refugees your administration has pledged to admit into the United States.
As governors, we are charged with ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our citizens. In order to adequately fulfill this duty, we request that you immediately review the process by which you conduct background checks on all individuals applying for refugee status and address the gaps acknowledged by your director of the FBI.
In the wake of this recent tragedy, and until we can ensure the citizens of our states that an exhaustive review of all security measures has been completed and the necessary changes have been implemented, we respectfully request that you suspend all plans to resettle additional Syrian refugees.
Sincerely,
Governors Robert Bentley of Alabama, Doug Ducey of Arizona, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Rick Scott of Florida, Nathan Deal of Georgia, Butch Otter of Idaho, Bruce Rauner of Illinois, Mike Pence of Indiana, Terry Branstad of Iowa, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Paul LePage of Maine, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Susana Martinez of New Mexico, Pat McCrory of North Carolina, Jack Dalrymple of North Dakota, John Kasich of Ohio, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma, Nikki Haley of South Carolina, Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, Bill Haslam of Tennessee, Greg Abbott of Texas, Gary Herbert of Utah, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and Matt Mead of Wyoming.
- Curious - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:09 pm:
This reads like something the RGA and RNC rooked all the R Governor’s in to doing purely for political reasons. Didn’t Rauner talk about being descended from immigrants a bunch on the trail? Also, not sure he really wants to be associated with this distinguished group of folks if he wants to endear himself to Independents and moderates here at home.
- ZC - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:11 pm:
Can we crowdsource this and can the Capitol Fax hub mind explain what these “inadequacies” are?
Knowing that would go a long way toward resolving if this represents a reasonable “press pause” in our Syrian refugee policy, or a very cynical CYA maneuver.
- wordslinger - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:17 pm:
Nauseating.
FWIW, this crew is completely misrepresenting the nuanced comments of Director Comey regarding refugee screening. You can look it up.
You can also look up Comey’s reasons for opposing the legislation passed by the House yesterday.
I’m glad they wrote the letter, though.
You’re in the history books now.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:17 pm:
“[We] are deeply concerned that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria may have exploited the generosity of the refugee system to carry out Friday’s terrorist attack in Paris.”
No matter how deep or sincere this concern, the terrorist attack in Paris was nevertheless carried out by people from France and Belgium.
But why muddy the waters with facts.
– MrJM
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
===and the necessary changes have been implemented,===
Sigh. They have no specific recommendations to change any of the dozens of current safe guards that are already in place.
Meanwhile, winter is coming and barefoot children can sleep on the ground for a few more months. But at least we’ll feel safe.
The sad part is, for the most part, these Governors are intelligent people. It should be their job to alleviate the concerns of their citizens by explaining that no one can ensure anything 100%. Instead, they are choosing to reinforce the fears and stoke the political fire.
And half a world away, widows and orphans are preparing for winter in a tent.
- Me too - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:19 pm:
I hope there aren’t any other white houses in DC. They forgot the address. /s
- Honeybear - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:20 pm:
Plenty of time for this crap but zero time to work on our own states’ budget.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:21 pm:
Anything that lists “Brownback”, “Kasich”, “Walker”, and “Rauner” in the same paragraph is DOA.
Those four names guarantee that it’s complete and utter nonsense, one hundred percent partisan, and hands-down, no-questions asked, dumb idea.
- doofusguy - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:25 pm:
Touche’ Frenchie!
- Anon - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
===may have exploited the generosity of the refugee system===
“We’re not saying it did happen, we’re just saying that a slippery slope logical fallacy could be used to suggest that it did happen”
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:27 pm:
>
It’s not quite that simple, I’m reserving judgment until I see the bio’s of the attackers. My guess is that at least some of these “French Citizens” were immigrants not all that long ago - you could call them “time bombs”. Major Nidal Hassan (sp) was an American citizen, born of Palestinian immigrant parents. I want people looking at this problem who are not wearing partisan goggles from either party, and it IS a problem. Is France better off or worse off today, than it was before it took in many hundreds of thousands of people from middle-eastern countries, over the past few decades?
- Me too - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
anon, you are the last person who should talk about someone being oblivious to the facts. There is a far greater chance of a mass shooting by a legal gun owner than a sleeper refugee who wafted three years to get here when a tourist visa could be obtained in no time at all. Let’s not act like we don’t let French or Belgian people visit this country all the time. Citizens of those countries carried out the attacks. That is fact. These give demand safeguards that frankly aren’t necessary, especially when you don’t even need background checks to own a firearm in this country. Also, American citizens have been recruited into ISIS. Should all of us go through the same imaginary 100% foolproof process to make sure we aren’t terrorists?
- thunderspirit - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
== This step was necessary to deal with a president who seems bewildered with what is happening all around him. ==
Interesting. I would welcome examples of this (well, something that doesn’t amount to “if you can’t see it I can’t help you”, anyway).
As to the letter, it’s clearly meant to both frame a wedge issue for the 2016 elections (http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/260778-senate-dems-vow-to-block-refugee-bill) and to embarrass President Obama.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
“No matter how deep or sincere this concern, the terrorist attack in Paris was nevertheless carried out by people from France and Belgium.”
Sorry, was replying to MisterJayEm’s comment above
- Toffee - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:29 pm:
I guess the opportunity to tap into alienation and xenophobia is too powerful to resist for these folks, never mind that the whole thing is utterly detached from the facts on the ground. On the other hand, is this a tacit acknowledgement from Rauner that something is more important than his precious Turnaround Agenda?
- Me too - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
Oops I was referring to anon not the above poster. Anon seems to think these four have to advise the leader of the free world because, well the comment was deleted. I’ll leave it at that.
- Allen D - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
Let’s not forget that the Governors, in this letter, asking for the will of the people of the state to be at least recognised. Governors are a mirror of the populace they serve… I believe that there are many citizens in every state, natural, naturalized, and immigrant, that would err on the side of enhanced caution in this case.
- Graduated College Student - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:31 pm:
===Is France better off or worse off today, than it was before it took in many hundreds of thousands of people from middle-eastern countries, over the past few decades? ===
There’s a statement about taking responsibility for the messes you make as a colonizing power here, but I’m not entirely sure how to phrase it.
- Paul Kemp - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:32 pm:
@MisterJayEm
…who posed as refugees to travel freely between Europe and Syria to be trained by, and fight for, ISIS.
So long as you’re waxing sanctimonious about facts, you may want to include all of said facts in your argument.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
Is it true the original letter was written in crayon?
- Amalia - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
Policy fail. have you even been watching the news Governors? Some Belgian and French citizens doing bad, bad things. it’s the background check that is key! You could be suggesting that you are nervous about forged passports, which is an issue. and not just for one country of origin. it’s not a country, or race, or neighborhood that is bad. it’s actions of individuals that may be suspicious! police work is always and everywhere complex. you are behaving vacuously.
- Formerpol - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
When my ancestors came over at Ellis Island, they had all been ‘vetted and had visas, and they had to prove that they had no communicable diseases and would not become a public charge. This is our tradition on immigrants. We should ask for no less with Syrians , several of whom no doubt will be hidden terrorists. It is impossible to truly vet these Syrians fully. Protecting our borders is the highest and first duty of the federal government. I dare Obama to say again that the terrorists in Syria have been contained and that the horrible attacks are mere setbacks. And I dare him to pooh-pooh these Governors’ concerns by saying that they have no authority on immigration. Looks to me that Obama is just dialing it in now and can’t wait for his term to expire.
- Me too - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:40 pm:
What ever happened to, “what happens in Vegas”?
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
Allen D, I prefer leaders who lead rather than follow. If ever there was a time for leadership, it’s when people are frightened.
Instead, we get this.
- Roamin' Numeral - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
Book of Matthew, Chapter 5:
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
I don’t always quote the Bible on Capitol Fax, but when I do, it’s to expose hypocritical right-wing xenophobes who otherwise try to pass themselves off as “good Christians.” Stay thirsty my friends.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
“posed as refugees to travel freely between Europe and Syria”
You sincerely believe that refugees can “travel freely between Europe and Syria”?
– MrJM
- Deep South - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:49 pm:
“Since it is possible that one crazy white male could go on a shooting rampage at a movie theater or a school at any time, all gun sales will be suspended for the time being.”
Who’s gonna sign that letter?
- Toffee - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:51 pm:
== If ever there was a time for leadership, it’s when people are frightened. ==
Yes, this. Fear is understandable and should be acknowledged, but true leadership means more than jumping in front of the herd.
- Paul Kemp - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
I suspect you are being intentionally obtuse. Don’t take it from me. How about from the Prime Minister of France?
http://news.sky.com/story/1590914/paris-killers-used-refugee-crisis-to-slip-in
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
“I dare Obama to say again that the terrorists in Syria have been contained and that the horrible attacks are mere setbacks.”
Ah yes, the “mere setback” canard.
President Obama actually said, “There will be setbacks and there will be successes. The terrible events in Paris were a terrible and sickening setback.” https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/11/16/press-conference-president-obama-antalya-turkey
Outside of Fox News, very few English speakers consider the word “mere” to be a synonym for “terrible and sickening”.
– MrJM
- Graduated College Student - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:52 pm:
===When my ancestors came over at Ellis Island, they had all been ‘vetted and had visas, and they had to prove that they had no communicable diseases and would not become a public charge.===
That said, the degree of scrutiny varied depending on where you are coming from. Great Britain/Germany? Oh, you’re fine. Southern Europe? Check him over again for diseases. Ireland?…Sigh let them in, just tell him to shut up about the Catholic stuff. East Asia? “I’m sorry we’re over quota for this year.”
===This is our tradition on immigrants.=== Who aren’t WASPs anyway…
===We should ask for no less with Syrians , several of whom no doubt will be hidden terrorists. ===
Probably should include France, the UK, and Canada in that list.
===It is impossible to truly vet these Syrians fully.===
About the only way you can get someone who is adequately vetted would be if they came from some totalitarian state like North Korea.
===Protecting our borders is the highest and first duty of the federal government. ===
And they are doing a reasonably good job. Last I checked, Paris was in France.
===I dare Obama to say again that the terrorists in Syria have been contained and that the horrible attacks are mere setbacks.===
Why does the phrase “Tet Offensive” come so readily to mind today?
===And I dare him to pooh-pooh these Governors’ concerns by saying that they have no authority on immigration. ===
States don’t get to handle foreign policy.
===Looks to me that Obama is just dialing it in now and can’t wait for his term to expire.===
Maybe. The last 7 years can’t have been fun.
- BeenThereB4 - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:55 pm:
I saw a graphic of the 1st Thanksgiving with the native Americans eating with the pilgrims, and the caption, “The irony of refusing aid and assistance to refugees/migrants while preparing to celebrate a holiday about receiving aid and assistance as refugees/migrants.”
- ZC - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:57 pm:
MrJM,
Unfortunately at least ever since Al Gore never actually said that he invented the Internet, the GOP has learned for its communication pipelines that it can doctor quotes at will.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 1:59 pm:
“How about from the Prime Minister of France?”
“These individuals took advantage of the refugee crisis … of the chaos, perhaps, for some of them to slip in”
The “perhaps” is doing a lot of work in that sentence.
– MrJM
- Aldyth - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:02 pm:
I assume that there will be a letter to follow banning tourism from individuals who come from addresses in the Middle East?
This is nonsense. This is handing a big victory to DAESH by giving them exactly what they want.
- Questions have answers - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:06 pm:
Not to mention that France, a country with one-fifth the population of the United States, and that actually was the victim of this terrible attack, reaffirmed that it would take 30,000 Syrian refugees. That is how you show terrorists that you are not intimidated. The United States can handle taking one-third as many.
- Generation X - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:09 pm:
France was the victim this time. Boston was a previous victim, Mali is a victim today. Perhaps a pause to review our security measures isn’t uncalled for
- Paul Kemp - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:09 pm:
@MisterJayEm
For somebody who was just complaining about misquotations and canards, it doesn’t appear to have stopped you any from using the same tactics to make your point:
“Authorities say the ringleader of Friday’s bombings and shootings in the French capital - which killed 129 people - managed to enter the continent unhindered.”
…
“France’s Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called on Europe to “wake up” to the threat posed by Islamic State and take steps to ensure the safety of citizens.
‘Terrorists are crossing the borders of the European Union,’ he said. ‘It is urgent that Europe wakes up, organises itself and defends itself against the terrorist threat.’”
Are you quite done?
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:12 pm:
It’s tough for me to decide what’s more disappointing;
The governors thinking these things, saying these things, or the fact a letter is out there with these “things” written.
Asking for pause, recalibrate, move forward is far different than what the governors and their wants are asking.
Suspend. No indication that it should return. The indications what changes or reviews need to be made either.
What is the “next”?
- South Central - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:14 pm:
Well, Allen D is right in that governors reflect (sometimes) the will of the people. All the fear-mongering that has taken place now and since 9-11-2001 has so far had the desired effect for GOP. Those who find it too much work to seek out facts or think about alternatives seem to be attracted to this rhetoric. …and it’s gonna make me have to keep my mouth shut Thanksgiving Day when the conversation starts.
- burbanite - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:16 pm:
Paul Kemp I don’t see any reference to the refugee crisis in your quotes, so I am not sure how that would be apples to apples with MrJMs quotes
- Questions have answers - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:18 pm:
And look, nobody is opposed to rethinking our security procedures to prevent this sort of attack. But there’s no reason to connect that rethinking to stopping Syrian refugees from going through the process by which they are granted admission to the United States. There is, at present, exceedingly thin evidence that any Syrian refugee had anything to do with the Paris attack (less still any evidence showing they had anything to do with the Boston bombing or today’s attack in Mali).
You got ideas about how to improve security, let’s hear ‘em. If you want to stop refugees, you are going to have to come up with a reason for that; at present, there simply isn’t any.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:24 pm:
Too reminiscent of the atmosphere during the Bush/Cheney administration: “Be afraid. Be very afraid.”
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:26 pm:
===during the Bush/Cheney administration===
Remember when the threat level seemed to go from yellow to orange right before each election?
- Generation X - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:26 pm:
Syria is just the present example of unstable country which houses a radical element which seeks to do harm to innocents. These terrorists are not ignorant. If they want to be seen as a harmless refugee fleeing a war torn country now is the time to move. It doesnt matter if it’s Hamas, ISIS, Boko Haram or a lone wolf. If you come from a hotbed of terrorism, extra scrutiny needs applied
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:26 pm:
@ Paul Kemp
I’m am. Your using scare tactics. Quit being so paranoid already and looking for those black helicopters. Seriously, if you don’t like it here or the people around you move already. I have Syrian in me,speak English, serve in the military, pay taxes, and send my children to a public school. I am heavily involved in several community organizations. Respect goes both ways my friend, I don’t ask for anything less.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:29 pm:
Allen,
No one doubts that the ringleader entered the European Union. That is self evident.
But I don’t see the phrase “as a refugee” or even the word “refugee” in your touted quotes. And it is the U.S. policy towards Syrian refugees that’s under discussion.
But, yes, I am quite done with you.
– MrJM
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
^ That, of course, should have been directed to Paul Kemp.
Details…
– MrJM
- Paul Kemp - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
You’re flailing.
You found the quote just fine where the PM Valls used the word “refugee.” You chose to focus your attention, instead, on the word “perhaps.”
In the context of the entire article, especially the two additional quotes that I clipped for you, the message is quite clear. They exploited the “refugee crisis,” to “[cross] the borders of the European Union,” “unhindered.”
If you can’t put all of that together and understand what that means, you are beyond help.
- South Central - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
For those who want to believe the terrorists are all mixed up with the refugees, please remember France has just committed to taking another
30,000 refugees from Syria. France, in the wake of this violence, can understand where the terrorists came from. However, our governor just can’t let this opportunity pass him by.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:42 pm:
Given the letter above, how does that square with this update from today’s meeting with ICIRR?
“The Administration explained to the groups that while Illinois wants to be a welcoming place for refugees, the federal government is still not sharing critical information requested by states,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said. “We hope they will advocate with federal representatives to encourage more information sharing from the federal government to the states.”
Nothing in the letter refers to any request for info, nor does it mention that the federal government is withholding any. And above all, it does not say what info Governor Rauner wants, has asked for, or what he will do once he receives it.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was stonewalling.
- olddog - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:44 pm:
Gov. Rauner shows again he has a national agenda that trumps (pun not unintended) any public policy vision he might have for the state of Illinois. This press release is an obvious effort to embarrass Pres. Obama, nothing more, nothing less.
- Me too - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Look all of the govs in Vegas signed it. This is a political stunt pandering to the scared xenophobic set.
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
Whoever the senior party advisers are that come up with this stuff, can they please go away? They are embarrassing the rest of the country.
- Cassandra - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:55 pm:
I think it’s worth noting that nearly 50 Democrats voted for the bill passed by Congress yesterday. Some of this is constituent-driven, obviously. Are the constituents all blithering idiots and complete losers unfit to live in the world, as some appear to suggest? I’m not qualified to say.
As I understand it, the Syrian refugees are coming here under the auspices of the UN’s refugee resettlement program which has been in effect for over half a century. They know what they are doing and they certainly don’t want their program to be compromised by sloppy screening procedures. I think this immediate setback is going to go away, and the pols and the public will be on to something else in this election year.
Mass migration isn’t going away, though, and our political masters at the federal level are going to have to deal with that. More people are on the move than ever in the world, and climate change, failed states, and an interconnected global economy are not going away either. Neither are demands on advanced countries like the US and the EU. So this is really only the beginning of the discussion.
- @MisterJayEm - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
It means you quite literally pulled words out of context to assemble a patchwork sentence that you think supports your argument.
But like I said, “Done.”
– MrJM
- very old soil - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:57 pm:
http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2015/11/chart-of-the-day-the-terrorist-threat-from-syrian-refugees/417039/
- D.P.Gumby - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 2:58 pm:
Does this mean we can stop calling them “Freedom Fries” and return to “French Fries”?
- Ghost - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:10 pm:
i notice they are concerned, but have no evidence other then bald prejudice upon which to rely.
more people have been killed in the us by lightnin strikes then have been killed by terrorist hiding as syrian refugees.
in ww2 we denied jewish refugees admission, and rounded up japanese americans to keep ourselves safe. it appears we are just as isolationist and racist today.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:19 pm:
How did this become a right/left issue? Is it because Obama’s in the White House?
- Cheswick - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:21 pm:
Anonymous @ 3:19 was me. Sorry.
- Ultragreen - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:28 pm:
This letter is just another cheap political stunt. Regardless of what Gov. Rauner thinks, Syrian refugees will continue to be settled in Illinois in the Chicago area. The organizations sponsoring these refugees have already said as much.
- just another number - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:29 pm:
-How did this become a right/left issue? Is it because Obama’s in the White House?-
Well, it seems to be republicans are against having Syrian refugees here and democrats are not, so it’s a pretty clear divide.
Republicans are looking to profit off of people’s fears. Like mentioned above, the Bush regime was pretty successful at this and a presidential election is coming up, so, hey, might as well try it again.
I like how Republicans are saying that Obama is soft on this kind of thing…who got Osama…who is reacting with logic and not “poppin’ off”???
- Young State Worker - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:39 pm:
In 1939, post-Kristallnacht, a clear majority of Americans opposed allowing 10,000 Jewish refugees fleeing Germany to enter the US. http://wpo.st/D8iq0. Should U.S. political leaders deferred to the majority sentiment, or does a crisis, when the public is afraid, the time when we have the greatest need for leaders to stand up for humanitarian values?
- Young State Worker - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:47 pm:
Argh I meant have deferred, and here is the working link http://wpo.st/dJiq0
- X-prof - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:50 pm:
Well, at least this letter doesn’t announce unilateral action by the governors to close their state borders to refugees. It just “respectfully requests” the President to close US borders. Still misguided, even dangerous, in my opinion, but perhaps a small step in the right direction from the initial rhetoric.
- anon - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:57 pm:
just another number—-I believe the military got him, a number of navy seals.
Who protected the Benghazi consulate?
And for those posters saying the R guvs are doing this to embarrass the president, the prez needs no help in that area.
- OldIllini - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 3:58 pm:
@3:29 pm -How did this become a right/left issue?
It is a bipartisan issue. The US House passed a bill for increased security on refugee vetting. “The vote was 289-137, with 47 Democrats joining 242 Republicans in favor of the bill, creating a majority that could override President Barack Obama’s promised veto.”
- ZC - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:07 pm:
I’m fortunate to be friends with one of the nation’s emerging poli sci / law scholars on the subject of immigration. She had this for me.
“Of all the ways to get into the US, the refugee system is the toughest way to get in. A couple of facts: 1) The U.S. resettlement system is different from the European system in that we set priorities to resettle vulnerable refugees first. 2) Therefore, of the 2,200 Syrian refugees resettled in the U.S. in the last 4 years, 50% are children, a large percentage are their mothers, and the rest are elderly. Only 2% are combat age men…. 3) The vetting process of all refugees before they are admitted to the U.S. takes up to 18 months and includes multiple database checks, interviews, and the giving over of biometric info. Are you telling me a terrorist is willing to hand over biometric info to the feds, and hang out in some refugee camp for 18 months? 4) … [N]ot one of the 9/11 bombers made a bonzai run over our southwestern border or were refugees. Instead all were admitted under temporary immigrant visas: tourists, business, student visas.”
Tightening up refugee rules to prevent a terrorist attack on the U.S. increasingly seems about as intelligent, and as well-grounded in scientific expertise, as shutting down every plane flight (coming or going) to Africa (the whole continent) to prevent Ebola.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:18 pm:
Anon 4:07 I would stay anon too if I was shoveling that load of crap.
Methinks you’re at the wrong blog. Try the Tribbies comment section.
To the Post, I would have preferred that the Governors just stayed out of it, but if they felt compelled to act, ask for a “pause” as OW as suggested to allow the States to get fully briefed on the Feds’ processes. This letter is way beyond that and I can’t support it in any way. Bad Form, GOP.
- Dome Gnome - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:22 pm:
The good governors have shored up for their Bundy Ranch Standoff. I’m picturing Carhartt’s all around. Nice work, Citizen Cliven!
- Generation X - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:26 pm:
@ ZC
Im thinking the Refugee review process could use a look as well.
Dozens have been arrested in the US for ISIS activity
- Bored Chairman - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:32 pm:
When political correctness trumps national security, liberals lose.
- ZC - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:42 pm:
Generation X ,
Really simple test here: Who among those arrestees you are talking about, came over admitted as a refugee?
- Me too - Friday, Nov 20, 15 @ 4:44 pm:
How many of those were refugees, GX? I’ll answer for you zero. Maybe we should do background checks on all American people with a foreign ancestry, you know everyone except the Native Americans. You know they haven’t committed a terrorist act in centuries…