Paris Massacre Must Lead Washington to Reconsider Mass Resettlement of Migrants
SHARES

FAIR SUPPORTS A COMPASSIONATE AND GENEROUS REFUGEE POLICY
FAIR does recognize the moral and humanitarian responsibility of the United States to accept refugees for resettlement in reasonable numbers. However, like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, FAIR believes that resettlement should be a last resort, not a first resort, and that the primary objective should be repatriation of refugees to their homelands when conditions allow.In furtherance of those goals, permanent resettlement should be afforded to those who are in the most imminent danger and whose prospects for successful repatriation within a reasonable period of time are least likely. Others should be provided protection and assistance in, or near, their homelands with the ultimate goal of safe repatriation. In all situations, the United States must be able to assess, with a high degree of confidence, that those who are resettled in this country do not pose a danger to American society.FAIR has repeatedly objected to the overt politicization of refugee policy and to the abuse of “temporary” protection programs that are anything but temporary. These abuses make it more difficult for our nation to provide protection and resettlement to those who need it most.FIX OUR EXISTING IMMIGRATION CHAOS BEFORE WE ADD NEW CHALLENGES
The U.S. already has existing national security vulnerabilities that this administration has adamantly refused to addressed. The border remains porous, many of the 9/11 Commission recommendations still remain unfinished including REAL ID and the implementation of an effective exit system to track overstayers, and the F-1 student visa program is replete with fraud and loopholes. Adding thousands of additional refugees — especially those from countries deemed high security risks — imposes additional burdens on a bureaucracy that has proven itself incapable of monitoring who’s who.WHAT MUST BE DONE
In light of last week’s attacks and the frank acknowledgements from intelligence officials here and in Europe, the Obama administration must abandon its plans for mass resettlement of Middle Eastern migrants. If they don’t, Congress must stop them. To accomplish that, it’s time for Americans to ask their elected leaders important questions:- With terrorism risks escalating, when will you finish the fence, stop allowing states to issue driver’s licenses, rein in the abuses of the F-1 student visas, implement an exit system and tend to other unfinished national security reforms?
- How is screening of the existing level of refugees accomplished both domestically and internationally? Can you provide reasonable guarantees that terrorists will not exploit the loopholes given that they already have in France?
- How would screening be carried out for tens of thousands of additional refugees from high risk countries in a manner that provides reasonable guarantees that terrorists will not exploit the loopholes?
- What is the local, state and federal cost and impact of additional refugees on American taxpayers?