Properly vetting Syrian refugees

This week, the White House met its goal of resettling 10,000 Syrian refugees. The Republicans on Capitol Hill have raised questions about whether or not terrorists or violent criminals have been allowed in. However, the White House has assured them that they have all been vetted.

How do we vet people whom we have no information about? Every single one of our intelligence entities, including the FBI, have repeatedly stated there is no way to vet these people.

We had a family of six refugees from the Congo placed in Missoula. These are Syrian refugees who first went to the Congo and then came here. Un-vetted. Now a family wouldn’t seem like a threat, right? Parents with young kids who just want a better life.

While that may be the case with this family, it may not have been the case in Twin Falls, Idaho. Officials there are investigating an alleged sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl involving a 7-year-old refugee from Iraq. Also charged in the case are two brothers ages 10 and 14 who passed through Sudanese refugee camps.

As a parent, would you place the needs of some else’s child above the safety of your own? Of course not! Neither should our government place the needs of foreigners above the safety of its citizens, you and me.

Opposition to refugee resettlement is not about racism or xenophobia, and to suggest that is a disgraceful attempt to shut down debate. It is about placing the safety of our families and communities above the desires of non-citizens. Refugees should not be allowed into our communities until our intelligence agencies can unanimously guarantee our safety.

— Chet Billi is a Republican candidate for House District 5