As the refugee crisis in Europe gets worse by the day, pressure is mounting on the United States to host those fleeing Syria and other parts of the Middle East.
But House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul is urging caution here at home when it comes to dealing with the crisis, reminding lawmakers and Americans about the national security threat the situation presents to the U.S. Al Qaeda has exploited similar crises in the past and ISIS plans to do the same now.
“We’re a compassionate nation and this is a tragic situation but I also have to be concerned as Chairman of Homeland Security about the safety of Americans in this country and the concern that I have and that the FBI testified to is that we don’t really have the proper databases on these individuals to vet them passed and to assure we’re not allowing terrorists to come into this country and until I have that assurance, I cannot support a program that could potentially bring jihadists into the United States,” Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul said in an interview with Fox News Monday. “We don’t know who these people are and I think that’s the bottom line here and until we know who they are, we cannot responsibly bring them into the United States.”
"Both the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have told me privately that they don't support bringing in Syrian refugees because of the threat they pose to Americans," McCaul continued.
Not surprisingly, McCaul hasn't heard from the White House after requesting specific details about how President Obama plans to handle the situation.
European nations like Germany have agreed to take up to 500,000 refugees per year. Meanwhile, Middle East Gulf States are refusing to take any.
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