WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration continues to attempt to tamp down the concerns of Congress, the public and dozens of governors over its refugee screening program, amid a political maelstrom.
The effort includes a five-page letter from Secretary of State John Kerry and Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, which we have obtained and you can read here. It's a follow-up to a conference call with Deal and other governors last week, and Deal's pronouncement that Georgia would not accept Syrian refugees -- though he has limited power to block them himself.
The missive goes into detail on the screening process, from the United Nations refugee organization's referrals to the U.S. government's vetting. The gist:
"In short, the security vetting for this population -- the most vulnerable of individuals -- is extraordinarily thorough and comprehensive. It is the most robust screening process for any category of individuals seeking admission into the United States. The process is multi-layered and intensive, involving multiple law enforcement, national security, and intelligence agencies across the Federal Government. Additional precautions have been added with regard to Syrian refugees. We continually evaluate whether more precautions are necessary."
The White House still has a ways to go to move public opinion. As we pointed out this morning, a Channel 2 Action News poll shows six in 10 Georgians are backing Deal on refugees.
About the Author
