ATLANTA -- While Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has stated that he wants to ban Syrian refugees from coming to the state, legally he doesn't have that power. However, Congress can keep them from coming to the United States.
11Alive's Rebecca Lindstrom asked Georgia lawmakers three questions:
1) "Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?"
2) "Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?"
3) "Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?"
Here are their responses:
SENATOR JOHNNY ISAACSON (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: MAYBE - No more refugees unless President can guarantee they aren't connected to ISIL.
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: Yes - wants list of proposed changes
Other: "Our screening process should be rigorous, and we must not allow for an increase to the number of refugees coming to our country until this administration puts forth a strong strategy for ensuring that radical jihadists are kept out of the United States. I have joined my Senate colleagues in calling on the administration to provide to Congress with the specific measures that will be added to the screening process for Syrian refugees in the wake of the Paris attacks. We must address the concerns publicly raised by the director of the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence. "Congress must be a check and provide every bit of oversight necessary to ensure there are no gaps in for the screening process. Furthermore, state and local governments should have a voice in the process for resettling refugees, and the federal government must respect state and local concerns about safety and security as well as community resource needs."
SENATOR DAVID PERDUE (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?:Yes
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other: "President Obama continues to miss the mark when it comes to combating ISIS. Coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris and around the world prove that the threat from ISIS continues to grow. These attacks demonstrate that ISIS has not been contained in their ability to wage war against the West and will stop at nothing to deliver terrorism to our homeland.
"It is time for America to lead our allies in an aggressive and united coalition to defeat ISIS once and for all. The most effective way to protect our national security is to end the instability in Iraq and Syria before it reaches our shores. The resurgence of Islamic extremism and the growing Syrian refugee crisis are symptoms of President Obama's failed foreign policy in the region.
"At this time, President Obama should stop any refugees from coming into our country until we have assurances that effective safeguards are in place to prevent radical terrorists from using the system to their advantage. The American people don't have enough information about the refugee vetting process, which is initiated by the United Nations. Our top priority should be to defeat ISIS completely and protect every American and Georgian, no matter where they are in the world."
REP. BUDDY CARTER (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: "I support eliminating all funding for any federal programs that seek to resettle refugees from Syria into the United States immediately."
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: "Yes, I am a cosponsor of the Resettlement Accountability National Security Act to prohibit the admission of refugees into the United States until Congress decides the United States is able to adequately vet the refugees and determine the likelihood of a refugee engaging in terrorist activity once in the United States. While we are a nation of immigrants, a full investigation and background checks are essential to any immigrant's path into our nation. Currently there is no way to accurately vet the Syrian refugees.
"Additionally, I sent a letter with several other Members of Congress to Secretary Kerry urging the administration to immediately halt admissions of refugees from the conflict areas into the United States. I applaud Governor Deal's decision that Georgia will not accept Syrian refugees for resettlement in Georgia and I believe the entire program should be stopped. It has been confirmed that at least one of the terrorists in Paris used the current refugee system out of Syria as a Trojan horse. We cannot let that happen in America.":
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: "As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I have been working with my colleagues to address homegrown terror and will continue to focus on protecting our homeland and processes that raise potential threats, including the Syrian refugee process."
REP. SANFORD BISHOP (D)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: (unanswered)
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other: (unanswered)
REP LYNN WESTMORELAND (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?:The power of the purse is a tactic the House can use to halt Syrian refugee resettlement, and it's one of the options being looked at.
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: We are looking at various options. I've joined my colleagues in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to halt admissions of Syria/Iraq refugees, as well as cosponsored three bills that address this. What we should have done is created safe-zones in the Middle East where these refugees can go and without threatening our security here at home.
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: How can you change a vetting process when the intelligence you're receiving is unreliable and incomplete? We cannot vet refugees when there is no credible background information to base it on. The best way to end the refugee resettlement is to eliminate ISIS.
REP. HANK JOHNSON (D)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: No, plus it can't be done without affecting the entire refugee program.
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: No. In the midst of a global refugee crisis, we cannot turn our backs on the world's refugees including millions of Syrians who are fleeing the very violence and depravity in their war-torn home country.
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: Refugees are more thoroughly vetted than any other traveler or immigrant to the United States. We rely on methodical and exhaustive background checks (18 - 24 months on average and longer in many cases) performed by the Departments of Homeland Security and State, in conjunction with the CIA, FBI, and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies. In addition to these security checks, Syrian refugee cases go through an additional enhanced review, which involves intelligence support to refugee adjudicators as well as watch-listing and dissemination of intelligence information reports. We should not let kneejerk reactions keep us from being a beacon of hope for Syrian refugees and other refugees in the Middle East, Africa, and around the world.
REP. JOHN LEWIS (D)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: No, we should not strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees. When Pope Francis visited the Congress, he reminded us that most who call themselves Americans today originated from other nations. Syrian refugees are fleeing the same terrorism we are trying to defeat and would likely be grateful to find a new home.
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: The U.S. vetting process has worked very well. Our circumstances are not the same as European nations with several contiguous borders, that may be harder to control because of the proximity of neighboring nations. That is not the case for the U.S. Refugees are interviewed, and vetted by international organizations, and then numerous U.S. agencies repeatedly and extensively screen and investigate each and every refugee applicant. It is a process which takes 15 months to 3 years, not a few days or weeks. Refugees must not to be confused with the U.S. immigration process; these are two completely separate issues.
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: Our process has worked very well in the past, but I am certain new proposals will be made. Each should be evaluated on its merits.
REP. TOM PRICE (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: Yes
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?:
Other: We must not allow the United States to experience the same fate and thus must suspend our refugee program until certainty is brought to the vetting process. Common sense must not be trumped by willful ignorance for the sake of dogmatic conformity.
REP. ROB WOODALL (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: (unanswered)
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other:
REP. AUSTIN SCOTT (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: (unanswered)
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other:
REP. DOUG COLLINS (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: YES - until rigorous screening process in place
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: YES - but no recommendations
Other: "There are an extraordinary number of men, women, and children from the Middle East who are being forced to flee their homes because of ISIS. However, we cannot put our national security at risk by waiving through hundreds of thousands of people from countries ruled by terrorist organizations, who would pose a threat to Americans on American soil. The terrorist attack in Paris on Friday could have happened here. Turning a blind eye to the President's plan to allow 10,000 refugees from Syria next year will only make us more vulnerable to attacks, possibly carried out by those we let in willingly. Until the U.S. can put a rigorous screening process in place, I support suspending admission to refugees from those countries."
REP. JODY HICE (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: Yes. co-sponsor of previous immigration legislation to stop refugees
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other:"I'm looking into a number of options in order to ensure that our citizens are protected; my chief concern is that the American people are kept out of harm's way. I've joined my colleagues in sending letters to the President and House Leadership urging them to halt the intake of refugees from Syria and Iraq until a more thorough screening and vetting process is in place. I've signed multiple pieces of legislation that would suspend this process. In fact, two months ago I cosponsored legislation that would halt this program, long before the Paris attacks. In my mind, no progress has been made in the way of instituting a more stringent vetting process."
REP. BARRY LOUDERMILK (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?:YES - looking at legislative ways to do it
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other:I am very sympathetic towards the plight of all refugees seeking asylum from the violence in Syria and Iraq. The United States has a long history of providing support, relief and sanctuary to oppressed people around the world; however, our nation is in the crosshairs of one of the most violent and evil organizations in the history of mankind. The threats against our nation are real and serious, and we must make every effort to protect the people and interests of our nation. Therefore, I am calling on the administration to immediately cease plans to admit any refugees from the conflict zones associated with the expansion and occupation of ISIS or the civil war in Syria. My office is currently looking at what legislative means we can use to force the administration to stop these potentially disastrous plans.
"Earlier this year, as a member of the Homeland Security Foreign Fighter Task Force, I visited France and several other countries in Europe, and met with both U.S. and foreign counterterrorism officials. Infiltrating refugees with terrorist operatives, as a method of positioning them in targeted nations, was a real concern. While our law enforcement and counterterrorism officials have done an exceptional job protecting Americans, ISIS is now operating at a new level. I do not believe we can afford to take resources off the front lines of countering terrorism to manage and monitor 10,000 refugees, with likely embedded terrorists."
REP. RICK ALLEN (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: (unanswered)
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other: (unanswered)
REP. DAVID SCOTT (D)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?:(unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: YES
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: (unanswered)
Other: My first duty is the security of the United States. We do not have a mechanism to vet the 10,000 Syrian refugees headed to the US. Until we can verify who is coming to our country, we should halt the influx of refugees. We won't solve the refugee problem until ISIS is defeated.
As a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I believe that Article 5 of NATO must be invoked. Article 5 states that if one of the 28 member of NATO is attacked, then the other NATO members stand ready to defend their ally. The last time that Article 5 was invoked, was after 9/11. Within 24 hours of the terrorist attacks on America, France joined our other NATO allies in solidarity with America. We must lead and defend France who stood with us. This is the only way to solve the refugee problem – defeat and destroy radical Islamist terrorism.
REP. TOM GRAVES (R)
Would you support a measure to strip federal funding aimed at resettling Syrian refugees in the United States?: (unanswered)
Should Congress do more to stop Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.?: Yes
Are there any changes that you want to see made to the current refugee vetting process?: Yes
Other:Today, Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA-14) co-sponsored the Resettlement Accountability National Security Act (H.R. 3314) and the Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act (H.R. 3573), bills that address the national security concerns surrounding the Obama administration's plan to resettle thousands of Syrian refugees in the United States.
"The horrific attacks in Paris show that Islamic terrorists are undeterred from their goal of destroying our way of life and murdering the innocent," said Rep. Graves. "We cannot allow terrorists posing as refugees to enter our country, as one of the Paris attackers apparently did. I want to freeze the president's refugee resettlement program until we better understand its national security risks. I also strongly support the action taken by Governor Deal to protect Georgians. A congressional task force has been established on the refugee program and I look forward to reviewing additional ideas to protect our communities and prevent terrorists from entering the homeland."
Specifically, H.R. 3314 puts a moratorium on the president's refugee resettlement program until the Government Accountability Office determines its national security risk and its cost to American taxpayers. H.R. 3573 requires congressional approval before the president can implement his resettlement plan and enhances the Department of Homeland Security's refugee vetting process.
