Terrorists embedded with refugees is an unacceptable risk. We must protect America.
The bill specifically mandates a ban on refugees fleeing Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
It would make a limited exception. Refugees from high-risk countries could circumvent the ban by verifying their refugee status–and only if they belonged to a group “designated as victims of genocide.”
The bill contains no religious test, but the exception appeared to be tailored to Christian victims of genocide.
In the past week, Cruz called on Obama to hold up Syrian Muslims from entering the country but allow Syrian Christians to enter. The senator said he is concerned that Muslim refugees may be affiliates of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
“At the end of the day, it’s not that complicated,” Cruz told ABC News on Tuesday. “There’s no history of ISIS terrorists embedding in the Christian community and pretending to be Christian.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has introduced legislation to bar refugees from any country “substantially controlled” by a terrorist group from entering the United States.“After watching the horrific scenes play out in Paris, we have to take basic steps to protect ourselves from the growing threat of radical Islamic terrorism,” Cruz said in a statement. “This legislation will do just that.”
In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks Nov. 13, Cruz’s bill becomes part of the debate over President Obama’s promise to accept at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the next year.
After a Syrian passport was discovered near the body of one of the Paris attackers, Democrat and Republican lawmakers have expressed concern that terrorists could travel to America disguised as refugees.
For three years, Cruz’s legislation would halt immigration from any nation the State Department has determined contains “territory substantially controlled by a terrorist organization.” After three years, lawmakers would consider whether to extend the prohibition.
The bill specifically mandates a ban on refugees fleeing Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
It would make a limited exception. Refugees from high-risk countries could circumvent the ban by verifying their refugee status–and only if they belonged to a group “designated as victims of genocide.”
The bill contains no religious test, but the exception appeared to be tailored to Christian victims of genocide.
In the past week, Cruz called on Obama to hold up Syrian Muslims from entering the country but allow Syrian Christians to enter. The senator said he is concerned that Muslim refugees may be affiliates of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS.
“At the end of the day, it’s not that complicated,” Cruz told ABC News on Tuesday. “There’s no history of ISIS terrorists embedding in the Christian community and pretending to be Christian.”
Source: Cruz Offers Bill to Bar Refugees From Terrorist Strongholds
