Rand Paul introduces bill to bar refugees from Syria, subject French citizens to waiting period
Source: Wash post
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has talked up his past border security bills in recent days, is introducing one to suspend the issuance of visas to refugees from Syria and up to 30 other countries, pending strict background checks.
“It’s about time, and Paris should wake us up that we can’t just let anyone come to this country,” Paul said in a conference call with reporters. “Forty percent of immigration issues in our country are from visa overstays, and for those visiting us from countries that have large jihadist movements, this will be a bone of contention.”
[In Las Vegas, Rand Paul mocks Trump’s anti-Mexico sentiments, but stays timid on immigration]
The full requirements in Paul’s bill, as provided to reporters, also included a 30-day waiting period on “all entries to the U.S. in order for background checks to be completed, unless the traveler has been approved through the Global Entry program.” That, said Paul, would include even citizens of France who wanted to study in the United States. Meanwhile, anyone seeking refugee status would only be eligible for a visa if three steps were met.
1) Aliens already admitted from high-risk countries have been fingerprinted and screened, pose no terrorist risk, and are being monitored for terrorist activity
2) Enhanced security measures are in place to screen future applicants and prevent terrorists from entering the country
3) DHS’ visa entry-exit system is 100 percent complete and a tracking system is in place to catch attempted overstays
Paul’s position put him in sync with a growing number of governors who want refugees stopped at the border, and arguably associated him with a harder line than Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). Since the Paris attacks, Cruz has suggested that Christian refugees might be handled differently than Muslims.
[Cruz: ‘No meaningful risk’ of Christians committing terrorism]
“I’ve supported private charitable causes to try to help Christians in Syria,” said Paul. “Ultimately, there can be a place, but in the context of the security of our nation.” In his view, the burden of accepting refugees needed to fall on “those who made the situation worse,” i.e. Iran and the nations of the Middle East.
Since the Paris attacks, Paul has talked more forcefully about limiting refugees; he has criticized Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a rival for the Republican presidential nomination, for opposing his Trust But Verify visa security amendment to the 2013 immigration bill.
[2013: Sen. Rand Paul offers border security amendment to Senate immigration bill]
At the same time, Paul is distancing himself from Rubio and other Republican hawks who have argued for further American involvement in Iraq and Syria to fight the Islamic State. Rubio and Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) have called for France to invoke Article 5 of the NATO treaty and bring the United States definitively into a war on the Islamic State.
“This is clearly an act of war and an attack on one of our NATO allies,” Rubio said on ABC News’s “This Week” on Sunday. “We should invoke Article 5 of the NATO agreement, and bring everyone together to put together a coalition to confront this challenge.”
Paul was more cautious, noting that Article 5 could only compel countries to declare war in line with their own laws. “We could do it in the context of obeying our Constitution,” Paul said. “Even if Article 5 were invoked, we’ve said we need a vote of Congress.”
Asked if he would oppose any expanded action against the Islamic State — such as ground troops — without a new congressional vote, Paul repeated that “the constitution’s pretty clear” on war powers.
“We’d need a new authorization,” he said. “I also believe that there’s ever to be a long-lasting victory that civilized Islam is going to have to stand up. In order for there to be a long-lasting victory, radical Islam will not be stamped out by Americans, or Christians, or the French for that matter… any force that occupies that area has to be a Muslim force.”
