Here & Now

Rep. Grothman Expresses Concern For Syrian Refugees In U.S.

Frederica Freyberg:

And the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act” Thursday, with republicans voting in favor and picking up bi-partisan support with yes votes from 47 democrats — including Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind. The measure would require that no refugee from Iraq or Syria could be admitted into the U.S. unless the FBI director certifies the background investigation of each refugee and that the Secretary of Homeland Security, the FBI and the Director of National Intelligence certifies to Congress that each refugee is not a security threat to the United States. Wisconsin Congressman Glenn Grothman calls the so-called SAFE Act a first step toward thwarting terrorism on U.S. soil. He joins us now from Fond du Lac. Congressman thanks very much for being here.

Glenn Grothman:

Glad to be on the show.

Frederica Freyberg:

It’s a first step because you, in fact, came out quickly in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, calling on the President to immediately halt all Syrian refugees from coming into the U.S. Were you disappointed that what you voted on didn’t go further?

Glenn Grothman:

No, no, I thought that it's very good. You've got to remember we've gotta deal with reality here. We just barely got the two-thirds vote necessary in the House of Representatives to withstand President Obama’s expected veto and we still don’t know whether we're going to get to two-thirds in the U.S. senate.

Frederica Freyberg:

The certification process is described as being overly cumbersome by critics for Homeland Security — and critics say it would effectively shut down refugee resettlement from Syria and Iraq. But here’s the question: would the certification process in your mind take away from work these security agencies are already trying to do?

Glenn Grothman:

No, no, no. I think when the FBI director certifies people are able to come to this country he’ll be able to take advantage of that work.

Frederica Freyberg:

And yet you know the way this is described is that each and every refugee wanting to come into the U.S. and going through this process the FBI director and the director of these other agencies would literally have to lay their hands on their documents and certify. You’re not suggesting that this would take away from the other kind of work that they do?

Glenn Grothman:

Well let’s point out this is not really a crisis here. These refugees are largely already in Jordan and Turkey. I would anticipate eventually the Obama administration getting on the ball and putting ISIS under greater pressure, greater financial pressure. Maybe by cutting off or assisting cutting off some of their funds for Saudi Arabia. Cutting off all the money they’re getting from oil exports. And if that’s done I think this crisis is going to back off a little anyway and these people can get back to Syria where they grew up.

Frederica Freyberg:

So, do you believe that the United States has a humanitarian role in helping them?

Glenn Grothman:

Well the United States takes in almost a million refugees every year. And every year we have about another 800,000 people sworn as American citizens. And we do have an obligation to take in people from all around the road. You have to remember, we have refugees from Afghanistan. We have refugees from Sudan. Refugees from Congo all over the place. Not to mention so many other people who would just like to come from other countries. If we begin to take everybody, who is available I mean it could be millions of people. As we look around and say, take refugee from here or there we have to see where we like to take people. This morning in Associated Press there was an interesting article which they interviewed Syrian Christians from Pennsylvania. They didn’t want more refugees here from Syria. Which I thought was kind of illuminating.

Frederica Freyberg:

And, in your prior response, you said that you don’t believe that the refugees, the video you see on the news of these people flooding out of their countries, and through Europe you don’t believe that’s a crisis?

Glenn Grothman:

No, I don’t believe it’s a crisis because right now there’s not a situation in Turkey or Jordan where these people are at risk. A lot of people certainly want to go to Europe because even before this war, Europe was a lot better place to be than Syria. United States is a lot better place to be than Syria. But I don't think we have a crisis in the situation that people are — at huge risk in these camps. I think if we have to we can make those camps better by sending more money over there. I’m glad see the Saudis are going to be sending money to those camps but I don't think we’re in a situation in which this group of people we have to make another big exception to our immigration laws and take another 10 or hundred thousand immigrants to this country.

Frederica Freyberg:

Back to the security issues current screenings for refugees are vigorous. Record checks and fingerprints run through the national counter-terrorism center, the Pentagon, domestic and international law enforcement including the FBI and Interpol. And Syrian refugees themselves get enhanced review. You don’t trust that? You think there are holes or gaps in that?

Glenn Grothman:

Right. I think we want to make especially certain here especially given what happened in Europe. Maybe you want to ask some people in Europe whether they were satisfied with the huge amounts of immigrants they had from that part of the world over the last 20 years. And I think that this additional screening is certainly going to improve safety in this country.

Frederica Freyberg:

We leave it there. Congressman Glenn Grothman. Thanks very much for joining us.

Glenn Grothman:

Glad to be on the show as always.