To Rand Paul, Legal Immigration Is Also a Concern

“We have 40,000 students coming to this country from all over the world,” he said. “Are they would-be attackers?”

Speaking at a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on border patrol corruption, Mr. Paul on Thursday questioned whether the government was adequately screening and then keeping tabs on those who enter the country with student visas or as refugees.

He cited the recent arrest of two Iraqi refugees on terrorism charges in his hometown of Bowling Green, Ky.; the men are accused of trying to send weapons and money to Al Qaeda. Mr. Paul said the fingerprints of one of the men had been found on an unused improvised explosive device in Iraq.