Me. s when it all turned on somebody full my hair, somebody by family from the other direction. Middlebury college for answer allison singer discussed a protest following the scheduled lecture by political scientist charles murray. Watcher tonight at eight eastern on cspan q a. Next, a look at the Refugee Admissions Program and concerns about fraud and abuse, vetting procedures, and naturals National Security. Members of the house judiciary subcommittee heard from representatives from several government agencies, including the acting assistant secretary for population, refugees, and migration, Simon Henshaw. The interview is about one hour and half. Mr. Labrador the subcommittee on immigration and Border Security will come to order. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare recesses at any time. We welcome everyone to todays hearing on oversight of the United States refugee Admission Program, and now i recognize myself for an opening statement. I have long been a supporter of u. S. Refugee Admission Program and the important humanitarian mission that it serves. The United States and the peace and democracy under which we live should give hope to those around the world who face persecution by their government, that their home countries can at some point also be free of such tyranny. As a former immigration lawyer i have seen the u. S. I. R. P. At work firsthand. I have seen those who have been able to avail themselves of it, come to this country and thrive. But just like with many government programs, the start out with the best of intention and over the years prove to need updates, the time has come to reform of the program. A few problems ive come to light in recent years include fraud, unchecked executive authority and threats to our National Security. The House Judiciary Committee has highlighted some of these deficiencies over the last few years. For instance, we all know that during testimony in 2015, the former f. B. I. Director made troubling statements about the inability of Law Enforcement officials to properly vet applicants for refugee status. And former Administration Officials acknowledged in testimony to this committee that state and local consultation throughout the Refugee Resettlement process has not been as robust as needed in all cases. In fact, i have been approached by colleagues regarding this issue. Theyre concerned about the views of the state and localities they represent were ignored by an administration that simply wanted to resettle as many refugees as possible without regard to prudence. On the issue of fraud in the program, i am pleased that today we have the Government Accountability office here to discuss the report they issued this past spring one of which highlights potential fraud in the process. These issues i have mentioned as well as others leave led me to introduce h. R. 2826, the Refugee ProgramIntegrity Restoration act of 2017. Among other things, the bill sets the annual refugee ceiling at 50,000, taking this responsibility from the president and placing it where it should be with us in congress. The bill also recognizes the states and localities should have a true say in whether or not their communities are able to resettle refugees. And h. R. 2826 contains provisions aimed at helping to detect fraud in the program and thus to reduce National Security concerns. In that vain, i know that this past tuesday marked the end of the 120day travel suspension for refugees pursuant to executive order 13780, and i know that the relevant departments have instituted enhanced screening and vetting procedures for refugee applicants with regard to one, the application process, two, the interview and adjudication process and, three, the system checks conducted on applicants. The Previous Administration always stated in response to any security related questions about the Refugee Program that certain refugees were the most vetted foreign nationals who enter the United States. But even if true, i never understood why the administration thought that simply because they were the most vetted that the vetting was sufficient. It seems that within months of taking over, the new administration has identified several areas in which vetting could be improved. I appreciate the attention to security concerns and the steps they have taken. I look forward to the testimony of the witnesses here today. And i yield back the balance of my time. I now recognize our Ranking Member, ms. Lofgren of california, for her opening statement. Ms. Lofgren like all members of congress, my highest priority is protecting our National Security. And todays hearing presents an opportunity to examine a threat to that security, President Trumps antirefugee agenda. Mr. Trump has characterized immigrants generally and refugees in particular as bad actors bent on harming americans. The conservative Cato Institute found that the odds of an american being killed in a terrorist attack by a refugee are one in 3. 64 billion. By comparison, odds of being struck by lightning are one in 700,000. The truth is refugees dont undermines our National Security, its President Trumps radical restrictions on their admission. Those include multiple refugee bans, a record low of refugee ceiling imposed at a time of record high global displacement. And a failure of American Leadership in the world. Let me identify two of the many ways in which these policies undermine our safety. First, by substantially lowering muslim refugee admissions, these measures project antimuslim sentiment that further fuels isis recruitment. Ryan crocker, a former ambassador to iraq and afghanistan, who served under republican and democratic administrations put it this way. Those who stand against Refugee Resettlement say theyre protecting the nation. Theyre not. Theyre putting the nation at greater risk by reinforcing the Islamic State narrative. In other words, Donald Trumps actions galvanize individuals bent on committing terrorist attacks against americans. Second, those policies damage partnerships with key allies in the fight against terrorism. Michael chertoff, d. H. S. Secretary under george w. Bush, specifically warned of the implications for our yirkey allies. Some iraqi allies. 60,000 of them await Refugee Resettlement in america. Many of their lives are at risk because of their assistance to the American Military and state department. The record low fiscal year 2018 refugee ceiling means that only a small portion of them will be resettle. By turning his back on these allies, President Trump discourages them, as well as other partners around the world, from helping the United States in future antiterror initiatives. It makes allamerican small amount more on the road to attack. Such consequences are so significant that white house aide Stephen Miller appears to have deliberately marginalized he u. S. Defense and National Security agencies in order to push through the record low refugee cap. Report, miller cut out the National Counterterrorism center, fbi, defense department, and joint stakeholdersff, from discussions about reducing Refugee Resettlement. It even quotes and state Department Official who cities that mr. Miller depressed evidence that was important to consider in determining a refugee number that would be beneficial to our National Security engines interests. The Trump Administration prioritizes antirefugee agenda over the safety of American People. With all of my democratic colleagues, i support rigorous refugee vetting measures. We have no higher duty than protecting the American People, this hope that the administration will not use claims of National Security, reviews of refugee vetting as cover to making a muslim band. It challenges the administrations claim that his previous ban advanced National Security objectives. Refugees to do more than just improve our National Security, their american identity and values. Thats why past president s of both parties embraced them. Contrary to this administrations suggestion, numerous studies prove they advance our economy. Healthy Human Services itself produce once of one of the studies. It showed that over a decade, refugees made a net positive Economic Contribution to the United States of some 63 billion. Another study found that refugees are significantly more likely than the navy board of americans to become entrepreneurs, and thereby create jobs for american workers. In my district, refugees have a measurable our community. Im troubled by the disconnect between the administrations reality rhetoric and reality. Im hoping today will show greater regard for the truth. Values, damage our economy, make all of us less safe. I would also like to add that when refugees and asylum these enter our country, and they have Constitutional Rights that must respected, im sure we will explore that further in the course of this hearing. I yield back the balance of my time. I would now like to recognize the full Committee Chairman for his opening statement. I very much appreciate you holding this hearing today on this important issue with this outstanding panel of witnesses. The United States has a generous Refugee Program, has provided millions of people fleeing persecution with safe haven, we refugees in the last fiscal year, we settled 50700 and 16 refugees. While we should continue that great tradition, it has become clear that our refugee laws and policies have been abused and that they need reform. Act of 1980 created our current Refugee Resettlement process, in which the president sets the annual limits to the number of refugees and resettled during the next fiscal year. Who could be considered admissible as a refugee and how and when those refugees could just to lawful permanent refugee status. In addition, the act put in place a process for the federal government to work through nongovernmental agencies to resettle refugees. Ofyears later, Members Congress and the American Public are voicing a growing number of concerns about how many and the process through which refugees are admitted to the United States, as well as what happens when they are admitted. The federal government has done little to respect those concerns. Under the Previous Administration, when a state or locality expressed immunity concerns about Refugee Resettlement, the ministration repeated the soundbites that refugees undergo the most rigorous background checks of any immigrants in the United States. That statement ignored the concerns of several security is noals, if there information regarding the potential refugee in the databases that are checked, and then no derogatory information will show up during the check. It ignored the fact that in many states from which refugees are admitted, failed states, there is no reliable information about refugees. 300now that over individuals being actively investigated for terrorist related activities by the fbi came to the United States as refugees. We know that at least two of the 10 successful terrorist attacks. 11 2001soil, september were perpetrated by individuals who enter the United States as refugees. In addition to security locality if a state or express concerns about the cost of Refugee Resettlement, or the lack of available employment opportunities, the Prior Administration and did little in response. It was simply their view that the federal government has a right to resettle refugees all across america. While there may be true, it is not necessarily the best practice. Many organizations do wonderful and necessary work, but it essentially ignoring the pleas of communities across the u. S. Resettlementefugee decisions to the Administration Simply feeds opposition to refugee admissions on the whole. That the Trump Administration has already addressed some of the concerns i have laid out today. For instance, i was happy to see that executive order 13 780, signed on march 6, 2017, recognized the problem with lack of state and local consultation prior to resettlement. It asked the fact secretary of state to promote state and local involvement in the resettlement decisions. Of course, the same executive order required a review of refugee processing to determine what improvements could be made in the process and then to implement those improvements. I look forward to hearing today how the department of homeland state, and health and Human Services are working together to improve the entire u. S. Refugee Admissions Program. Resettlement,t the program can remain a valuable and viable part of u. S. Immigration policy. Thank you mr. Chairman, i yield back. I would now like to recognize the full Committee Ranking member for his opening statement. Thank you mr. Chairman. Witnesses andning everyone else here. Over the course of todays hearing on the United StatesRefugee Admissions Program, there are several factors that i want our witnesses and members to consider. We begin with it is incontrovertible that the United States since its founding, has been a nation of immigrants. Fact, itition of that will be an undeniable value that immigrants contribute to our collective wellbeing, it has provided safe harbor for the persecuted. True to these values, as president s, republican and democratic alike, have championed robust Refugee Resettlement. For example, the annual refugee admissions ceiling has averaged 94,000 since the refugee act of worldsking america the resettlement leader. And just one year ago, the cap was increased to 110,000 in response to the global humanitarian crisis fueled by wars and unstable political environments. Unfortunately, the current fashion,ation in swift abandoned americas bipartisan leadership in this arena. Pursuant to executive orders, President Trump issued a series of refugee bans. Even set a fiscal year 2018 ceiling of 45,000, the lowest in modern history. In terms of per capita Refugee Resettlement, that ranks the United States behind eight other nations. Under any circumstances, these actions would fly in the face of our countrys values, but coming at a time when worldwide refugee levels have soared to the highest in history, this cap to me is unconscionable. And worst yet, the administrations purported justification shorts actions are basis. It argues that the Refugee Program poses a security threat. Democrats been, committed to rigorous refugee betting. National Security Experts from both parties agree that it is the absence of robust resettlement that truly undermines americas safety. Admissions refugee President Trump damages to me he alliances and the ongoing fight against terrorism and strengthens isis recruitment. The administration also claims that refugees fail to assimilate , and that they drain public resources. Again, however, the facts are. Therwise according to reports, an internal study by the department of health and Human Services suppressed by the administration shows that refugees contributed billion toive 63 the United States over a 10 year periods. In other words, it is not refugees, but the president s restrictions of their admission that the saps the nations coffers. In sum, trump doesnt leave lots of refugees in danger and just dont violate core