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U.S. NEWS A3
Wednesday 18 November
Republicans rush to shut borders to Syrian refugees
From left, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn about this.” has claimed responsibility
After an initial meeting for the Paris attacks. More
of Texas, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., participate in a news conference of the House Republican governors announced their
task force Tuesday, aides objections to receiving
on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. The group was laughing as a reporter’s cell to Majority Leader Kevin any refugees from the civil
McCarthy said the focus war in Syria. Those gover-
phone being used as a recording device had just rung during the news conference. of legislation would be on nors included at least one
stopping Syrian refugee Democrat, Maggie Hassan
ERICA WERNER Schumer’s comment un- (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) resettlement until the ad- of New Hampshire, who is
ministration can offer assur- running for the Senate. The
ances that no terrorists are backlash against Syrian
being admitted, including refugees rose up just a few
via FBI background inves- months after a photo of a
tigations. Senate Minor- small boy lying lifeless on
ity Leader Harry Reid, a a beach sparked calls of
Democrat, said the vetting compassion for Syrians fac-
process should be made ing brutality in their home
stronger if possible and the country. Some Democrats
White House was looking and refugee advocates
at how to do so. likened the GOP reaction
On the campaign trail, to the U.S. government
Republican presidential turning away Jews fleeing
candidates denounced Nazi Germany and placing
the Obama administra- Japanese in internment
tion’s strategy against the camps during World War
Islamic State group that II.q
ALICIA A. CALDWELL derscored what could
Associated Press become an increasingly
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- uncomfortable position
publicans urged an imme- for Democrats as worried
diate closure of America’s voters seek assurances
borders to Syrian refugees that Friday’s carnage in
Tuesday, drawing angry the streets of Paris will not
denunciations from some be repeated here. Some
Democrats and ignit- lawmakers pointed to in-
ing an emotional debate dications that one of the
about U.S. values in the Islamic State attackers
wake of the deadly Paris carried a Syrian passport
terror attacks. and may have arrived in
“Pause” was the word France among waves of
used by both new House desperate refugees. Yet
Speaker Paul Ryan and Germany’s top security
Senate Majority Leader official said the passport
Mitch McConnell, both Re- might have been a fake in-
publicans, urging at least a tended to stoke fears.
temporary halt in the reset- Amid the uncertainty,
tlement of Syrians and dis- Ryan confronted an unex-
puting Obama administra- pected foreign policy test
tion claims that the small in his third week on the job.
numbers making their way Ahead of a classified brief-
here so far are being thor- ing Tuesday evening for
oughly investigated. lawmakers he assembled
The administration showed a task force of committee
no sign of backing off its chairmen to bring refugee
plans to bring an addition- legislation to the floor as
al 10,000 Syrian refugees soon as this week.
to theU.S. and mounted a “This is a moment where
hasty defense of its vetting it’s better to be safe than
process, which Attorney to be sorry,” he said. “So
General Loretta Lynch as- we think the prudent, the
sured Congress is “robust.” responsible thing is to take
Yet there were signs that a pause in this particular
Democratic allies might aspect of this refugee pro-
abandon the White House gram in order to verify that
on the issue. Chuck Schum- terrorists are not trying to
er, the third-ranking Senate infiltrate the refugee popu-
Democrat, broke with most lation.”
in his arty and told report- McConnell echoed that
ers that a pause in accept- call within hours, remark-
ing Syrian refugees “may ing: “It’s pretty clear how
be necessary.” the American people feel
