New bill in US Congress proposes stricter vetting of refugees

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. Tuesday he went on FOX News to say the state will not allow any more Syrian refugees into the state.

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. Still, Obama said the idea of only allowing Christians in amounted to “political posturing” that runs contrary to American values.

The Senate, where Republicans hold a smaller majority than in the House, would also have to approve any legislation on the refugees before it could take effect.

Democratic Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the first Muslim elected to Congress, said that would send the wrong message to Islamic State, also known as Daesh. “Do you really want Daesh to dictate terms to the United States?”

President Barack Obama has described as hysterical the actions of two dozen state governors who are refusing to resettle Syrian refugees.

House Speaker Paul Ryan yesterday called for a pause in Syrian refugees coming to the United States in the wake of the Paris attacks and said the House will vote on the issue this week. Candidates have been debating all year what to do about 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country.

CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports they say that the governor didn’t have the authority to block refugees and that even if he did, it would run counter to everything the city stands for. People fleeing Syria will account for much of the increase in refugees, though not all. “The bill is a problem and I can not support it”.

A look at the screening process could calm their nerves.

Jindal said Syrian refugees began arriving in New Orleans earlier this month, and said it is “irresponsible and severely disconcerting to place individuals, who may have ties to ISIS, in a state without the state’s knowledge or involvement”.

In an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, the governor of Washington state publicly welcomed refugees, citing the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, warning fellow governors against “fear”, and insisting that background checks minimize whatever risk the refugees may pose. “It’s a long time they meet with us many meetings”.