Speech #1140064220

Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4038 is not necessary at this time because our nation already has in place the worlds most rigorous screening process for refugees seeking asylum. Mr. Speaker. there are other alternatives to the draconian approach of H.R. 4038. takes such as the bill introduced by Ranking Members THOMPSON and LOFGREN. The President is another solution for those who seek reassurance that every precaution is being takenhe is in a position to certify to the Congress and the American people that the process is prudent and careful in its actions regarding refugees seeking entrance into the United States. It is helpful to recount briefly the critical elements of that screening process. Every applicant for asylum must: 1. register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 2. provide background information. including what caused him or her to flee their home country (a ready means of comparing information provided by more than one million refugees to further verify the validity of the information provided). 3. meet one of five legal qualifications: threat of violence based on race. religion or faith or national origin. political beliefs. or membership in a targeted social group. 4. undergo a rigorous background check during which investigators factcheck the refugees biography to ensure consistency with published or documented reports of events such as bombings or other violence. 5. be subjected to biometric tests conducted by the Department of Defense. in conjunction with other federal agencies (the U.S. military has an extensive biometric data base on Iraqis from its time in Iraq). and 6. sit for intensive inperson interviews. which may take months or years before they are conducted. Mr. Speaker. over the past several years intelligence and law enforcement agencies have established and perfected an intense form of screening for Syrians called the "Syrian Enhanced Review." If. during the screening process. a person from Syria gives response that raise red flags he or she is selected for more intense examination by U.S. intelligence agencies. The demographic breakdown of those Syrians who have been approved for refugee status to come to the United States is as follows: children. 50%. persons over the age of 60. 25%. combat age males. 2%. Mr. Speaker. we must be careful not to engage in ethnic or religious profiling.