America — the nation of immigrants — is divided again on yet another case of "huddled masses yearning to be free" after one of Friday's attackers in Paris was found to be carrying a Syrian passport. It's still not clear if the document was official or fake, but it's raised the possibility that one or more of the brutal terrorists crossed the French border disguised as a Syrian refugee. This year, the US has admitted 1800 Syrians who were fleeing civil war, and President Obama plans to admit 10,000 more. But that's created a political firestorm. Is a ban on Muslim refugees from Syria needed to keep America safe? Would it help ISIS recruiters show that the US is making war on Islam?
The Security Threat from Syrian Refugees: Rhetoric or Reality?
More
- Governor Ted Abbott to refuse Syrian refugees relocating to Texas
- Washington Governor Jay Inslee on security protocols related to refugee resettlement
- Governor Rick Snyder on pausing efforts to bring more refugees to Michigan
- Kapur on GOP calls on to defund Obama's Syrian refugee program
- Arab American Institute on the truth behind Syrian refugee resettlement in the US
- Center for Immigration Studies on the cost of resettling Middle Eastern refugees
- Waldman on whether GOP presidential candidates will try to reignite voters' fears
Credits
Guests:
- Sahil Kapur - senior national political reporter for NBC News - @sahilkapur
- Maya Berry - Arab American Institute - @imayaberry
- Mark Krikorian - Center for Immigration Studies - @MarkSKrikorian
- Paul Waldman - American Prospect / Washington Post / The Week - @paulwaldman1