Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statement on the Executive Order signed January 27th, 2017:
“While the Executive Order was initially poorly implemented, leading to confusion and fear—especially for green card holders from the seven countries previously identified by Congress and the Obama Administration as countries of concern—the assessment from the FBI that there are gaps in data when vetting refugees from conflict zones cannot be ignored.
“The reports that ISIS has smuggled more than 4,000 covert operatives into Western nations hidden among innocent refugees also cannot be discounted.
“The executive order is a pause as we find a way to secure and protect Americans while acting with compassion for humanitarian refugees. I believe that a balanced immigration process can be implemented that achieves a necessarily-enhanced vetting process for those who seek refuge in the US while protecting Americans to the greatest extent possible from acts of terrorism.”
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