GOP Rep: Obama’s Syrian Refugees Plan Violates Duty To Protect American People

The terrorist attack in Paris is an “alarm bell” requiring that Congress block the Obama administration’s plans to resettle tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in communities across the U.S., Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) says.

“The terrorist attack in Paris by militant Islamists is a loud clanging alarm bell to Congress and the American people warning us why we must block Obama’s reckless and foolish plan to allow tens of thousands of Syrian refugees into the U.S.” Babin said Monday.

According to the Texas Republican, Obama’s plan to admit thousands of Syrian refugees in light of the terrorist threat and without full vetting capabilities represents an abandonment of his duty as president.

“Our duty is to defend the American people against all enemies foreign and domestic,” Babin stressed. “President Obama’s plan violates that oath.  That’s why I am leading the effort in Congress to block his plan and I will do all I can to stop this insanity.”

Babin has been pressing appropriators in Congress to include language in the in the upcoming FY 2016 spending bill that would prevent federal funding for the admission of refugees from Syria, the Middle East and North Africa until there are processes in place to ensure terrorists will not infiltrate the U.S. as refugees.

“At least one of the Paris terrorists was a Syrian refugee who entered Europe just a few weeks ago. It would be an abdication of our sworn duty to protect the American people if we fail to block Obama’s UN refugee plan,” Babin noted.

The Texas lawmaker also has been pushing legislation to halt all refugees from coming to the U.S. until the Government Accountability Office (GAO) audits the cost and Congress looks at the national security risks of the refugee resettlement program.

In his statement Monday, Babin pointed specifically to recent revelations by top officials that they are unable to fully vet the Syrian refugees due to a lack of data.

“We also have seen more than 400 Americans join ISIS and there are reports of over 1,000 ISIS investigations ongoing,” he said.