Newly elected House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) called for a “pause” in Syrian refugees in the aftermath of the attack in Paris.
“Our nation has always been welcoming, but we cannot let terrorists take advantage of our compassion. This is a moment where it’s better to be safe than to be sorry,” Ryan said after a meeting with Republicans, according to the Washington Post.
Millions of Syrian refugees have been fleeing the violence caused by the civil war in their country, and the resulting occupation from the terrorist group Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. The group claimed credit for terrorist attacks in Paris, Beiruit, and Iraq last week that left hundreds dead. Many are citing the fact that one attacker was found to have infiltrated the ranks of refugees in Greece prior to the attack.
Ryan isn’t alone in trying to halt the flow of Syrian refugees to the United States after the attacks, which were committed by suspects officials have thus far only identified as European nationals. More than two dozen governors have said they would try to halt Syrian refugees from entering their state, even though their legal authority for doing so is dubious.
Until Ryan’s announcement today, much of the discussion in Congress has focused on potentially addressing alterations to the Syrian refugee program, which Obama announced would cause the U.S. to accept 10,000 refugees in September, in a budget bill that Congress must pass by December 11. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said on the Senate floor on Monday that the program could mean the U.S. could be letting in “similar extremists who want to harm Americans” to the attackers in Paris. He called for blocking funding for the program in the coming budget bill.
Ryan told reporters today, “We don’t want to wait that long.”