House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday called on lawmakers to pass legislation this week that would halt President Obama’s Syrian resettlement program until U.S. intelligence officials can ensure no terrorists are among them.
“It would mean a pause in the program until we can be certain beyond any doubt that those coming here are not a threat,” Ryan said in a brief floor speech Wednesday.
“If the intelligence and law enforcement community cannot certify that a person presents no threat, then they should not be allowed in,” he said. “This is common sense, and it’s our obligation.”
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Ryan also stressed that the bill would not target refugees of any specific religion, and instead would focus only the security threat people pose.
“We will not have a religious test, only a security test,” he said.
House Republicans moved quickly this week to come up with a congressional response to the terrorist attacks in Paris after it was revealed one of the attackers was posing as a Syrian refugee. Republicans have been critical of Obama’s plan to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States and dozens of governors have pledged to reject the refugees.
Lawmakers reported their offices have been flooded with calls and emails from constituents who are concerned that the refugee resettlement could pose a danger by providing a way for terrorists to gain entry into the United States. Some members and state governors have demanded a complete ban on Syrian refugees, although the bill the House will pass falls short of that demand.
The House bill would halt the resettlement of any Syrian or Iraqi refugees until they are certified safe by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence.
“We are a compassionate nation. We always have been, and we always will be,” he said. “But we also must remember that our first priority is to protect the American people,” he added. “We can be compassionate, and we can also be safe.”
“It’s that simple, and I don’t think it’s asking too much.”
Congress has already sent Obama a bill that would require the administraiotn to provide a detailed strategy to defeat the Islamic State abroad and to counter the threat of terrorism on U.S soil. The president has indicated he will sign the measure.
