U.S. & Syrian refugeesNapolitano, Chertoff: it is possible to welcome Syrian refugees, protect U.S. security

Syrian refugees sleeping at a railroad station // Source: commons.wikimedia.org

Two former secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security — Janet Napolitano (2009-13) and Michael Chertoff (2005-9) — wrote to President Barack Obama Thursday, saying it is possible to welcome refugees while ensuring the safety and security of Americans.

“With respect to refugees seeking to resettle here, it is our view that we can admit the most vulnerable of these refugees into this country safely as long as we do not compromise the already established protections,” the two wrote.

Napolitano and Chertoff argued that accepting the Syrian and Iraqi refugees helps advance the American values of “openness and inclusiveness” by helping protect the most vulnerable Syrians. “First, we consider only the most vulnerable — particularly survivors of violence and torture, those with severe medical conditions, and women and children — for potential admittance to the U.S.”

The two former secretaries emphasized that the United States is advancing its values while working to ensure the safety of Americans at home. According to Secretaries Napolitano and Chertoff, refugees undergo a more rigorous screening process than anyone else we allow into the United States.

“The process for any refugee seeking entry to the United States requires the highest level of scrutiny from a law enforcement and national security perspective. The process takes place while the refugees are still overseas, and it is lengthy and deliberate.

“Once a candidate is selected they are subjected to biographic and biometric security reviews based on the latest intelligence from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Counterterrorism Center, the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense. If they pass these national security checks, they will then be personally interviewed by specially trained DHS personnel to ensure they are qualified for admittance.”

Napolitano and Chertoff note that after that, the candidates are subjected to further screening right up to an interview at the border before they enter the United States. “They are then subjected to recurrent vetting up to the final point of departure and a final interview at the border before being admitted into the U.S.”

“The process that is currently in place is thorough and robust and, so long as it is fully implemented and not diluted, it will allow us to safely admit the most vulnerable refugees while protecting the American people. Fortunately, these goals are not mutually exclusive,” the two former secretaries conclude.