Vern Buchanan: Senate Needs to Pass Bill Banning Syrian Immigrants

After reports emerged that the terrorist behind the bombing in Istanbul which claimed ten lives was a Syrian national who fled into Turkey, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., called on the U.S. Senate to pass a bill freezing Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. until security is improved. The House passed that measure in November. 

“The attacks in Paris and Istanbul demonstrate how radical Islamic jihadists are using refugee populations as cover to carry out murderous attacks,” said Buchanan on Wednesday. “The safety of Americans comes first. Congress needs to put a bill on the president’s desk to freeze the Syrian refugee resettlement program until we have a better screening process.

“We should be using every tool at our disposal to stop terrorists in their tracks,” Buchanan added. “The Senate should pass this bill immediately and require the president to fix the gaping holes in the administration’s vetting system.”