Speech #1140063430

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to discuss the issue of the Syrian refugees and the Islamic State terrorists who are coming across our southern border and. in relation to this. the Office of Refugee Resettlement loophole that exists there. Also. Mr. Speaker. as I begin my remarks. I commend the House and our Speaker for speaking out and taking an action to condemn the Paris attacks. This administration has announced its intention to resettle 10.000 Syrian refugees within the United States in fiscal year 2016. Now. I want you to think about that number. 10.000 in the year 2016. They will go to resettlement communities all across the country. if the administration has its way. It is important to note that the Office of Refugee Resettlement. or the ORR as it is called. does not simply resettle refugees from overseas. In fact. the ORR has been resettling thousands of illegal aliens that are coming across our southern border. I want to read to you from their 2013 report to Congress: "Other Categories Eligible for Assistance and Services. "Certain other persons admitted to the U.S. or granted status under other immigration categories also are eligible for refugee benefits." In addition. certain persons deemed to be victims of a severe form of trafficking. though not legally admitted as refugees. are eligible for ORR benefits to the same extent as refugees. That is correct. the ORR resettles illegal aliens not classified as refugees. providing another potential gateway for the Islamic State terrorists. Frankly. we would know more about the ORR activities if they filed their annual reports. as required in section 413(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. and did it in a timely fashion. The last report we have from them is 2013. It is not transparent. it is not accountable. and it cannot be trusted.