IMMIGRATION SUBCOMMITTEE TO EXAMINE SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS AND ITS IMPACT ON NATIONAL SECURITY
OBAMA ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO RESETTLE 10,000 SYRIAN REFUGEES OVER THE COMING YEAR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 16, 2015 CONTACT: Kathryn Rexrode or Jessica Collins, (202) 225-3951
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 9:00 a.m., the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine the Syrian refugee crisis and its impact on the security of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Despite warnings from top national security officials, President Obama has set the overall refugee ceiling at 85,000 for Fiscal Year 2016 and announced that the Administration will admit 10,000 Syrian refugees over the coming year. Additionally, ISIS terrorists and sympathizers have stated that they will use the refugee system to infiltrate Western countries. Following the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, it was learned that one of the terrorists entered Europe as a Syrian refugee.
Below is the witness list for this hearing:
- Ms. Anne C. Richard (Invited), Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, United States Department of State
- Ms. Barbara L. Strack (Invited), Chief, Refugee Affairs Division, Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Directorate, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
- Mr. Seth Jones, Director, International Security and Defense Policy Center, RAND Corporation
- Mr. Mark Krikorian, Executive Director, Center for Immigration Studies
- Mr. Mark Hetfield, President and Chief Executive Officer, HIAS
Below are statements from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) on this hearing.
Chairman Goodlatte: “While the United States already has the most generous refugee policies in the world, we must ensure that those seeking refuge in the United States do not pose national security threats to our nation. Top national security officials within the Obama Administration have repeatedly warned that the U.S. government does not have the resources and dramatically lacks the information needed to fully vet refugees from Syria. ISIS also has vowed to use the refugee system to enter Western countries. Despite these warnings and the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, President Obama continues to move forward with his plan to admit 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States over the coming year.
“This week, the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee will examine the national security and public safety implications of the Obama Administration’s plan to resettle thousands of Syrian refugees. As we examine the Administration’s plan and the overall refugee program, it’s important to remember that most refugees prefer to go back to their home countries and live in peace. The best way to stem this refugee crisis is to promote peace in the region and support humanitarian operations in affected countries and not try to bring more and more people to the United States.”
Subcommittee Chairman Gowdy: “National security and public safety are the preeminent functions of government. While America has a proud history of providing refuge for those who have been persecuted for their beliefs or otherwise face imminent harm, we also have a duty to ensure the necessary background investigations can be done to stop terrorists from exploiting Americans’ generosity and ruthlessly taking more innocent lives. While the President may claim ISIS is ‘contained,’ clearly it is not. His own Administration officials have cautioned Congress of our limited ability to conduct security checks for those from Syria. If the recent attacks are not a wake-up call, I do not know what will be. We need to hear from State and USCIS regarding our refugee program and national security risks during this extraordinary time.”
This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at http://judiciary.house.gov/. Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally-credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.
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