Grassley Presses to Stop Taxpayer Funding for Syrian Refugees Until National Security Concerns are Addressed

Statement

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley is urging Senate Appropriations Committee members to place firm restrictions on the expenditure of any money to resettle Syrian refugees in the United States until intelligence officials have agreed with the vetting process for these refugees.

Grassley has been concerned that the Islamic State will seek to leverage the anonymity offered by blending in with the thousands of people fleeing from the violence of the Middle East. After meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry about the number of refugees the President plans to allow into the United States, Grassley emphasized that America's security must remain a top priority when admitting refugees, especially when violent terrorist groups like ISIS are committed to finding ways to enter the United States and harm Americans.

In a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman and Ranking Member, Grassley wrote, "I urge that you, as part of the appropriations legislation before the committee, require, as a condition for any funding for refugee resettlement for Syrian refugees, a comprehensive plan on how security will be achieved. Furthermore, not one dollar should be expended until stringent parameters for vetting these refugees are established. Therefore, I urge you to include language in the spending measure to require a certification by intelligence and counterterrorism officials, such as the FBI or the NCTC, before any refugees from Syria are admitted."

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