Speech #1140064220

Thursday. November 19. This is fasttoo fast for such a serious decision and without considering the arduous process that is in place to screen all refugees not just those from Iraq and Syria. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 4038 only addresses the refugee process for those who are Iraqi and Syrian. In its own way. it acknowledges that the process in place to vet refugees is difficult so much so that no terrorist would choose it as a means to enter the United States. Unlike Europe where people from the Syrian and Iraqi conflict could walk by land to Europe by the tens of thousands. the United States is not accessible by foot. We will not take any refugees who are now in Europe. Our nation welcomes millions of tourist. business travelers. and students from around the world at our airports and seaports each day. The United States Refugee Asylum process is not comfortable and it takes at a minimum 2 years. The persons who apply must remain where they have registered until the process is completed. which involves a series of in person interviews. physical health status checks. collection of biometrics and other data as well as investigations by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The last thing a terrorist would want is to be a refugeeliving in the harsh environment of a refugee camp for two years. Refugees are the victims of terroristsISIS/ ISIL does not love themthey want to murder every last one of them. because they will not bow to them. We should be stirred by the defiance and courage that refugees exemplifybraving the unknown because they yearn to breathe free. In truth ISIS/ISIL has killed more Muslims than any other group of persons because they practice their faith as they see fit and refuse to worship falsely. This bill troubles me because it asks the impossible of professional law enforcement. national security. and intelligence agency personnelby requiring a 100% guarantee that each person poses no threat. No professional security or law enforcement professional will give anyone a 100% guarantee about anything. They will not provide a 100% guarantee because they believe that something or someone is a threatthey will not provide a guarantee because it is grossly unprofessional to do so and we should never ask them to do this. On its face H.R. 4038 would end any hope of asylum in the United States for any refugee from Iraq or Syria. If this is what the leadership wants then they should say it plainly and have a debate about profiling as a national policy. I cannot support this bill. but I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground.