Guinta: Halt Syrian Refugees to the U.S.

U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-NH, is calling on the Obama Administration to halt the flow of Syrian refugees to the United States, until national security agencies have properly vetted them for ties to radical Islamic groups.

The remarks come at a time when many governors around the country are informing the federal government that they will not host refugees from the region.

“We can’t take the risk of even one potential threat entering our country, not after the carnage of Paris,” said Guinta in a press statement. “We’re the most generous people in the world, giving billions in support of freedom and democracy and aid to refugees, but President Obama has demonstrated a dangerous lack of understanding about the true nature and aims of ISIS. The terrorist army occupies large parts of the Middle East and has stated the intention to kill Americans where we live.”

According to reports, a member of the terrorist group ISIS claimed refugee status to enter France and helped to stage a bloody attack that killed over 100 civilians and wounded over 300. Guinta said the information underscores the need for greater scrutiny of refugees attempting to enter the U.S.

“A president who cannot define radical Islam cannot possibly vet thousands of refugees for radical Islamists,” said Guinta, pointing out the Administration’s refusal to employ the term or to speculate about perpetrators of the Paris attacks, despite available evidence. “Hours before ISIS conducted one of its biggest operations, the President claimed to have contained the threat. He’s admitted to having no strategy. So it’s up to Congress to fill the leadership void and protect our homeland, while we also maintain humanitarian efforts.”

The Congressman has signed a bipartisan letter to President Obama calling for an immediate stop to admissions of Syrian refugees. He supports legislation requiring Congressional approval of refugee levels and thorough FBI and Department of Homeland Security background checks.

According to published reports, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, also issued stated that the federal government needed to ensure the safety of the American people. According to WMUR-TV, Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, who is running against Ayotte next year, has become the first Democrat to call for more scrutiny around the refugee issue. Hassan has also called for flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of the victims of the Paris attacks.