A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll shows that 56% of Americans think the U.S. should take in fewer refugees or none at all. This number has increased from 41% in September, mainly due to the terrorist attacks in Paris where at least one of the terrorists had entered the country as a refugee.
According to the poll Americans are split by party on the refugee question with 77% of Republicans and 38% of Democrats saying the U.S. should accept fewer refugees.
The FBI Director, James Comey, has repeatedly said that the U.S. does not have the ability to thoroughly screen refugees coming from countries like Syria where information is scarce. This has left many Americans concerned about the national security risks that refugees might present if brought to the U.S.
The terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif., heightened these vetting concerns since the wife was brought her through a K-1 visa or fiancé visa and underwent three background checks before being allowed to immigrate to the United States.
Included in the omnibus spending bill, which Congress passed today, is a provision that would fully fund Pres. Obama’s Refugee Resettlement Program including the additional 10,000 Syrian refugees he plans to bring to the U.S. next year.
For more on this story ready The Wall Street Journal.
