Speech #CREC-2017-03-06-pt1-PgS1601_t6

They were people who said: We have come here and are looking for freedom. We opened our doors, and they have made us a better country because of it. The United States was not frightened by the fearmongers when it came to these refugees joining us in the United States, and we shouldn't be today. Let's be clear. Refugees who come into our country this day are the most carefully vetted and investigated of all of the travelers to the United States. Before refugees are admitted to the United States, they have to pass careful, rigorous security screenings. All of that screening takes place before they even set foot in America, and Syrian refugees undergo a new layer of enhanced review before they are allowed to come to America. President Trump's own Department of Homeland Security has determined that his travel ban will not make us safer. Listen to this memo from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis in President Trump's administration: Country of citizenship is unlikely to be a reliable indicator of potential terrorist activity. Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011, the foreign- born, primarily U.S.-based individuals who were inspired by a foreign terrorist organization to participate in terrorism- related activity were citizens of 26 different countries. The Trump administration believes they have found--first seven--now six countries from where they will deny terrorists access to the United States, even those who have gone through the vetting to be considered refugees. Listen to this. It is another memo from the same Department--the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis-- under President Trump: Most foreign-born, U.S.-based violent extremists likely radicalized several years after their entry to the United States, limiting the ability of screening and vetting officials to prevent their entry because of national security concerns. The point is that it is not likely a terrorist is going to stand in line for 2 years to become a refugee to the United States and go through all of the background checks and live in a refugee camp for that purpose. Those who ended up being involved in terrorist activities were converted after their having arrived in the United States, and they included in their ranks many who were born in the United States. If we are serious--really serious--about protecting America, we should close the loopholes that make it too easy for foreign visitors and suspected terrorists to buy deadly weapons. Most people do not know, but we have not precluded--or stopped--those who are visiting the United States from buying weapons. Even if we have not checked them, there are no background checks when it comes to terrorism. We should focus on individuals who are engaged in suspicious behavior, not target entire Muslim countries or the entire refugee population. It makes no sense. Even President Trump's Department of Homeland Security says as much, but this President is determined to go forward with his Muslim ban.