Rep. Smith Statement on President’s Actions to Strengthen Vetting of Refugees and Immigrants

Washington, DC –  Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive order which aims to protect Americans from potential terrorists with stricter vetting of refugees and immigrants coming from terrorism-sponsoring countries. 

Rep. Smith: “I appreciate President Trump’s effort to protect innocent Americans from those who enter the United States to do us harm. We ought to take every reasonable step possible to protect the American people from terrorism. Two years ago, President Obama designated these seven countries as a security threat for travel purposes. These countries were designated based on the threat of terrorism, not religion or any other factor. Those from terrorist sponsoring countries should not be admitted until they can be properly vetted by our national security agencies. 

“This action is temporary. The regular process will resume once security policies are updated over the next 90 days. That is what President Trump’s action does.”