St. Paul, MINN—Rep. Dan Fabian (R-Roseau) and Rep. Deb Kiel (R-Crookston) issued the following statements in support of a letter sent by House Speaker Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) calling on Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton to urge President Obama to suspend relocation efforts for Syrian refugees until the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has completed a full review of security and screening procedures for refugees entering the country.
A copy of the letter is attached and can be found here.
"In the wake of recent terrorist attacks around the world, it's clear that the safety and well-being of Minnesotans must continue to be our first priority," said Rep. Fabian. "The federal government should suspend its relocation program until it can assure us it has done its due diligence to implement a program that screens out terrorists and those wishing to enter the country to do us harm."
"The crisis in Syria is truly heartbreaking, and I know Minnesotans are sending their thoughts and prayers on behalf of the innocent families and refugees caught up in this crisis," said Rep. Kiel. "However, keeping Americans safe is the government's main concern always, and in light of the most recent terrorist attack in France, we must ensure that the screening process for refugees is adequate and thorough."
In 2015, Representatives Fabian and Kiel, along with other House Republicans, championed an initiative to help the Department of Public Safety combat the recruitment of Minnesotans by terrorist organizations like ISIS.