The Record - Garrett: Why we Must Bolster Refugee Screening

Statement

By Rep. Garret Scott

Recent attacks in Paris, Mali and Beirut are horrific reminders that terrorist organizations are increasingly aggressive in their campaigns to spread death and chaos. From 2013 to 2014, deaths related to terrorism around the world have increased by 80 percent. As we mourn these senseless losses of life, we must adapt to new security threats.

Officials report that at least one of the terrorists in Paris traveled to the country by impersonating a refugee. We also know that President Obama has set the overall refugee ceiling at 85,000 total people and announced that the administration will admit 10,000 Syrian refugees over the coming year. The United States is faced with a delicate balancing act between protecting our country against those who wish us harm and ensuring that we support people who are fleeing tyranny and bloodshed in Syria.

We live in an imperfect world and there is no room for error when ensuring that incoming refugees are not a terrorist threat. Immediately following the attacks on Paris, ISIS made threats to our country -- specifically targeting New York City and Washington, D.C. -- that cannot be ignored. The House of Representatives is examining this national security issue, and many top officials have expressed their concerns about the vetting process.

Enhanced risks

Last month, FBI Director James Comey acknowledged that there are enhanced risks associated with bringing people to our country from conflict zones such as Syria. He said, "There is risk associated with bringing anybody in from the outside, but especially from a conflict zone like [Syria]. My concern there [about bringing Syrian refugees into the United States] is that there are certain gaps I don't want to talk about publicly in the data available to us."

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson echoed Comey's sentiment when he said, "It is true that we are not going to know a whole lot about the Syrians that come forth in this process ... we know that organizations like ISIL might like to exploit this [Syrian refugee resettlement] program … the bad news is that there is no risk-free process."

Obviously, we must reexamine our refugee program.

Safety and security

My top priority is the safety and security of the American people, and the attacks on Paris are a stark reminder that our enemies are willing to go to great lengths to commit acts of terror. Last week the House voted to fortify our refugee program by requiring supplemental certification and background investigations prior to admissions of refugees.

The bill would require the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to unanimously certify through background investigations that a refugee is not a security threat. The bill also requires that DHS submit a monthly report to Congress on the number of refugees that are being certified, and those that are denied certification.

As Secretary Johnson and Director Comey alluded to, vetting refugees is a difficult process. One of the biggest problems when vetting refugees from Syria is our lack of diplomatic ties with their country, which means we have limited access to law enforcement information and pertinent documents. This problem is compounded by the fact that the Syrian government is in shambles and the information can be unreliable, incomplete and sometimes non-existent.

I've heard from countless constituents who are concerned that the United States will continue our refugee program without taking a moment to question our practices and implement safeguards to protect our country.

Ignoring the risk posed to our country would be a dangerous dereliction of duty. The United States is not turning its back on the Syrians who are legitimately looking for help. Our country has already committed billions of dollars to help the Syrian refugees around the world, and we will continue to meet those humanitarian obligations.

International community

The Syrian people seeking refuge need the continued support of the international community, and we must continue to work on a balance between helping these people and our national security. The United States is, and will continue to be, a world leader in humanitarian aid operations, and those who are suffering from unspeakable horrors at the hands of oppressors will always have our support.

I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that we advance policies that protect the American people and provide relief for refugees both here and around the world.

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