After yesterday's vote in the House of Representatives over whether to pause the Syrian refugee program, I want to be sure you know where I stand. I voted “yes” on H.R. 4038 to pause the Syrian refugee program, which passed by a vote of 289-137. Here’s why:

Bottom-line: Our top priority must always be the safety and security of American citizens. Period. That means until the federal government can adequately ensure the safety of the American people, we must pause the refugee program. 

How we got here: The current refugee crisis is appalling and tragic. As our former Ambassador to Iraq and Syria told me in a hearing this Wednesday, “we had beaten back al Qaeda pretty soundly” when Obama took office. But, by prematurely withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq and scaling back political engagement, he created a vacuum which the Islamic State filled. Meanwhile, the Administration has allowed the situation in Syria to spiral into further chaos, constraining the U.S. bombing campaign against ISIS, failing to back up his “red line” on chemical weapons, and squandering millions of dollars on a “train and assist” program that only managed to arm a handful of moderate rebels.

The threat we are facing:

• In just the last few months, ISIS attacks have included the bombing of Metrojet Flight 9268, as well as bombings and mass shootings in Ankara, Beirut, Baghdad, and Paris, leaving hundreds dead and more injured.
• This week, ISIS released a video message declaring that, as it struck France, it “will strike America at its heart.” 
• ISIS operatives claim to have already infiltrated the massive flow of refugees fleeing to Europe from Syria, while evidence has been reported that one of the Paris suicide bombers entered Europe via Greece using a fake Syrian passport early last month.   

What do our senior intelligence and counter-terrorism officials think?

• In September,Director of National Intelligence James Clapper expressed “huge concern” that ISIS militants could infiltrate the crowds of refugees fleeing Syria.
• Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in October that, “It’s true that we are not going to know a whole lot about the Syrians that come forth in this process… We know that organizations like ISIL might like to exploit this program….The bad news is that there is no risk-free process.”
• FBI Director James Comey warned in October that, “There is risk associated with bringing anybody in from the outside, but especially from a conflict zone… My concern is there are certain gaps I don’t want to talk about publicly in the data available to us.” 

My action:

• Immediately pause the refugee program. I joined over 100 other Members of Congress in sending a letter to the President, demanding a halt to all Syrian and Iraqi refugee resettlements until we can ensure national security. We also need an extensive monitoring process for all currently relocated refugees, to keep Americans safe from potential threats.
• Aggressively scrutinize the vetting process.  I supported the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, (H.R. 4038), which passed the House yesterday and pauses the refugee program. Under this bill, until the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence can unanimously certify that a refugee is not a security threat to the United States, they cannot be admitted into this country.
• Require the President to issue a strategy for defeating – not just containing – ISIS. This week an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress sent an updated national security bill to the President’s desk, which mandates that the Commander-in-Chief issues a concerted strategy to financially and militarily destroy the Islamic State.
• Stop the Administration’s plan to transfer terrorists to American soil. Moving terrorist suspects who are currently being held at Guantanamo Bay to cities in the U.S. places a target for ISIS on those cities. I took the first steps in Congress to prevent the transfer of detainees in 2010, and am still fighting against it.  Watch my questioning of Attorney General Loretta Lynch about this, here.
• Continue to support those persecuted for their faith. As I argued in a letter to Secretaries Kerry and Johnson last month, while the U.S. is a compassionate country and must continue to be a leader at home and around the world in protecting those who are oppressed and targeted, we must also ensure that our national security is not compromised in this process. There is much that we can do to provide immediate relief short of resettlement, and we must aggressively pursue these options to bring much needed relief to those who are persecuted for their beliefs. 

 Weigh in:

• Your voice matters. To email me your thoughts and opinions on this issue, click here.
• Click here to answer my poll this week about whether the Administration should halt the admittance of Syrian refugees into the U.S.