Ron works to keep our country safe during Syrian refugee crisis


Fox 11 News 
By: Andrew Lacombe
November 20, 2015 
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson says it’s still unclear what the Republican-controlled Senate will do with his bill that would create new hurdles for Syrian and Iraqi refugees trying to enter the United States.

Johnson made a stop in Grand Chute Friday morning.

The Republican-controlled House passed its version of the bill Thursday with 47 Democrats joining Republicans in support. President Obama has threatened to veto the measure.

Following last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris, Johnson and other Republicans have called for changes to the federal Syrian refugee program.

“We’re not talking about blocking, we’re just talking about being reasonable and taking reasonable steps to keep this nation safe,” said Johnson.

His bill, which in effect would suspend admissions of Syrian and Iraqi refugees, would require the FBI to conduct background checks on people coming to the U.S. from those countries. It would require the heads of the FBI and Homeland Security Department and the director of national intelligence to certify to Congress that each refugee “is not a threat to the security of the United States.”

“We have a pretty robust vetting process for refugees, so what we’re saying is just make sure that vetting process is completely followed,” said Johnson.

The White House says the bill would not improve Americans’ security.

With President Obama threatening a veto, Johnson says he is working with Democrats in the Senate to override it. The House could override a veto after its vote Thursday.

If all 54 Senate Republicans voted in favor of the bill, 13 Democrats would have to join them.

Johnson and Democrats are discussing changes to the bill.

“We’re talking about what do we need to do to strengthen or plug the holes in the Visa Waiver Program because that does represent a greater risk to America than even these refugees,” he said.

www.ronjohnsonforsenate.com

In an emailed statement to FOX 11 Friday, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin didn’t take a direct stance on Johnson’s bill as changes are being considered.

“I would like to see the Senate to take a broader look at ensuring ISIL terrorists are not able to slip into the United States and harm Americans,” said Baldwin. “This includes enhancing security screenings in the Visa Waiver Program which has loopholes that should be closed. I would also like to see the Senate address a serious national security and public safety weakness: the terrorist background check loophole that allows a known or suspected terrorist to swiftly pass a firearms or explosives background check and obtain a dangerous weapon.”

Johnson says he would be in favor of prioritizing groups of refugees.

“Women and children, relatives of Syrian-American citizens who can financially support the refugees that come in would certainly be my first criteria,” said Johnson.

He would not say when he hopes the Senate will vote on the bill. The chamber is on Thanksgiving recess. Minority Leader Harry Reid has threatened to block any vote.

The current refugee screening process typically takes 18 to 24 months and includes interviews, fingerprinting and database crosschecks by several federal agencies. Syrians undergo additional screening involving data from the U.N. Refugee Agency and interviews by Homeland Security Department officials trained to question Syrians.

The Obama administration wants to increase the 70,000 refugees to be admitted from around the world this year by 10,000, with much of the increase for Syrians.

The White House said that of 2,174 Syrians admitted to the U.S. since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, none has been arrested or deported because of allegations they harbored extremist ambitions.

http://fox11online.com/news/nation-world/sen-johnson-working-with-democrats-on-refugee-bill

In an emailed statement to FOX 11 Friday, Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin didn’t take a direct stance on Johnson’s bill as changes are being considered.

“I would like to see the Senate to take a broader look at ensuring ISIL terrorists are not able to slip into the United States and harm Americans,” said Baldwin. “This includes enhancing security screenings in the Visa Waiver Program which has loopholes that should be closed. I would also like to see the Senate address a serious national security and public safety weakness: the terrorist background check loophole that allows a known or suspected terrorist to swiftly pass a firearms or explosives background check and obtain a dangerous weapon.”

Johnson says he would be in favor of prioritizing groups of refugees.

“Women and children, relatives of Syrian-American citizens who can financially support the refugees that come in would certainly be my first criteria,” said Johnson.

He would not say when he hopes the Senate will vote on the bill. The chamber is on Thanksgiving recess. Minority Leader Harry Reid has threatened to block any vote.

The current refugee screening process typically takes 18 to 24 months and includes interviews, fingerprinting and database crosschecks by several federal agencies. Syrians undergo additional screening involving data from the U.N. Refugee Agency and interviews by Homeland Security Department officials trained to question Syrians.

The Obama administration wants to increase the 70,000 refugees to be admitted from around the world this year by 10,000, with much of the increase for Syrians.

The White House said that of 2,174 Syrians admitted to the U.S. since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, none has been arrested or deported because of allegations they harbored extremist ambitions.

http://fox11online.com/news/nation-world/sen-johnson-working-with-democrats-on-refugee-bill