Last year, the ISIS-inspired attack in San Bernardino, California, exposed a dangerous flaw in American immigration policy when it was announced that refugees’ social media accounts were not being screened for potential ties to Islamist organizations.
Following that announcement, the Obama administration pledged to begin monitoring those accounts. But despite the pledge, the administration acknowledged this week it still isn’t doing so, which prompted Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback to withdraw his state’s support for the Syrian refugee program.
“We made a reasonable request of the Obama administration to provide us with information we need to help protect the safety and security of Kansans,” he said Governor. “Because the federal government has failed to provide adequate assurances regarding refugees it is settling in Kansas, we have no option but to end our cooperation with and participation in the federal refugee resettlement program.
“As governor, my priority has been and will continue to be the safety and security of Kansans. Kansas remains a state that has always been welcoming to refugees, but we must take prudent and responsible actions to protect our communities.”
Brownback said he met with representatives of the State Department, Homeland Security and the National Counter-Terrorism Center to “address concerns based on the current security environment, both nationally and internationally,” but didn’t like the answers, or lack thereof, he was getting. His office provided a number of documents that illustrate the lengths he went to in order to get safety assurances from the federal government.
“We have been reasonable and incredibly patient in attempting to work with the federal government on this issue,” he said. “As Governor, I must have confidence that the refugee relocation program, and particularly the vetting process, is sufficient to protect our citizens. If I have to choose between the safety and security of Kansans and the relocation of refugees, I will take action to protect Kansans.”
According to the Washington Times, the Obama administration has admitted fewer then 2,000 Syrian refugees, despite President Obama’s pledge to bring in 10,000 by the end of the fiscal year—which is Sept. 30. Those who have been critical of the program, however, say it’s more important to ensure refugees who are admitted to the U.S. won’t pose a national security threat.
The Times reported that’s not happening:
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez said in February that the administration was increasing its monitoring, including screening social media accounts of those applying as refugees from Syria.
A USCIS official, who asked not to be identified, confirmed Tuesday that the agency has not reached that point but insisted that other checks are “extraordinarily thorough and comprehensive.”
The official said the agency tries to find refugee applicants who are most likely to be risks and then attempts to scour their online accounts.
“USCIS conducts risk-based screening on publicly available social media postings in connection with applicants for certain immigration benefits, including certain refugee applicants. DHS also continues to run pilot programs and evaluate the results of these efforts to expand the appropriate use of social media as indicated,” the official said.
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