WASHINGTON, D.C.– Amid Governor Bryant’s statement on not accepting Syrian refugees in Mississippi, Representative Bennie Thompson says “it’s the American thing to do.”
“The United States has a multi-layered system that vets people seeking to enter the country as refugees,” says Thompson, “This vetting process takes on average between 18 to 24 months.”
That means that before now, refugees could not step into the country without this process, according to Thompson.
“While concern about the risks associated with unknown persons in refugee populations is understandable, particularly in the wake of last week’s heinous attacks in Paris, we must not lose sight of the fact that three quarters of the refugee population are women and children and the U.S. government will be highly selective about which applicants it approves,” says Thompson, “Providing safe harbor to individuals who no longer have a home because of war and violence is the humane–and American–thing to do.”
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