Posted on 06/21/2016 7:32:47 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
(CNSNews.com) – Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday evening there was “zero evidence” that refugee applicants who go through the rigorous screening involved in the U.S. refugee admission program pose a greater security threat than members of any other group.
Speaking at the interfaith iftar (Ramadan fast-breaking meal) in Sterling, Va. coinciding with World Refugee Day, Kerry also warned that what he called “bigoted and hateful rhetoric” about Muslims helps those “who propagate the lie that America is at war with Islam.”
“There is absolutely no evidence, my friends, zero evidence, that refugees who make it through this arduous process, pose any greater threat to our society than the members of any other group,” he said. “And it is important for people to know that.”
Alluding to calls by some Republican politicians to bar Muslim refugee applicants, Kerry said blocking any group on the basis of religion, race or nationality went against Americans ideals.
“Preventing any group from entering the United States solely because of their race, or because of their nationality, or because of a religious affiliation is directly contrary to the very ideals on which our country is based,” he said.
“We believe in individual rights, not collective guilt. And we believe in judging people based on what they do, not the circumstances of their birth or their choice of sacred texts,” Kerry added.
“We need to remember,” he continued, “that bigoted and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims plays right into the hands of the terrorist recruiters who propagate the lie – it plays into the hands of people who propagate the lie that America is at war with Islam, when in fact there is no country on earth where Muslims enjoy more freedom than in the United States of America.”
After Kerry’s remarks at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) center, a member the community and the U.S. Army National Guard, Ali Khwaja, offered the Islamic call to prayer before the day’s fast was broken.
In his comments Kerry did not address the issue, raised by some Republicans and the subject of proposed legislation, of prioritizing in refugee admissions minorities that have been specifically targeted by Islamic extremists in the Syria and Iraq conflicts – and which Kerry himself has determined are the victims of genocide.
As of Monday, the federal government had admitted 4,464 Syrian refugees so far this fiscal year, of whom just 17 (0.3 percent) are Christians, 10 (0.2 percent) are Yazidis, and one each are defined in State Department Refugee Processing Center data as “no religion” and “other religion.”
The vast majority of the 4,464 – 4,385, or 98.2 percent – are Sunni Muslims. Another 17 are Shi’ite Muslims and 33 are other Muslims.
With regard to Kerry’s comments about the relative threat posed by refugees, State Department spokesman John Kirby said last November that of 785,000 refugees from all countries admitted to the U.S. since 9/11, “only about a dozen have been arrested or removed from the United States due to terrorism concerns that existed prior to their resettlement in the United States.”
None of them were Syrian, he added.
A State Department factsheet last December said that Syrian refugees admitted to the U.S. since the beginning of FY2011 had been able to do so “only after the most extensive level of security screening of any category of traveler to the United States. None have been arrested or removed on terrorism charges.”
ABC News reported late last year that two Iraqi refugees resettled in Kentucky were later found to have al-Qaeda links.
In January, two Iraqi-born Palestinian refugees in the U.S. were indicted on terror-related charges.
Omar Faraj Saeed al-Hardan of Houston, Texas, was charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, procuring citizenship or naturalization unlawfully, and making false statements. He was admitted into the U.S. as a refugee in 2009.
Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, of Sacramento, Calif., was accused of traveling to Syria to fight alongside terrorist groups, and was also charged with lying to the government about his travels. He arrived in the U.S. as a refugee in 2012.
So we are supposed to worry about offending the sensibilities of people who want to chop off our heads?? People who started this war against us, before anyone suggested profiling or limiting Muslim refugees??? Will they really love us and stop all their terror and warlike acts, if only we bend over backwards to let more of them into this country??? Really???
Then put them next door to your grandkids, John.
.... Something is about to happen.
I hadn’t realized until last week that his spawn had married a raghead. Dhimmi.
Lying, opportunistic POS like always.
The evidence usually comes after the fact, not before.
He has lied to us before, for many, many years.
Why should we even consider believing what he says?
He lied about Vietnam.
He lied about Vietnam protests.
He lied about hunting.
He lied about the Iran deal.
He is and always has been a liar.
The ruling class has no conscience.
I doubt there’s a bigger bunch of liars concentrated anywhere as there is in DC.
Need to start decorating lampposts.
Yes. A “What the meaning of “is” is statement.
Pure sophistry.
And there’s no evidence about what the Orlando shooter’s motives were. Are these people for real??
Boston, San Berdoo, the shoe bomber, the underwear bomber, and now Orlando. (refugees whelped one here)
There’s zero evidence that Kerry knows his anus from an excavation.
Thanks for your help in making the case that the entire US State Department needs to be retired.
I stopped reading here..
Sheriff: Obama Telegraphing ‘Make It To the Border, You’re Home Free’
And it’s also disturbing that refugees are evidently bringing their health problems into the country.
Syrian refugees are a health hazard to US by bringing flesh-eating leishmaniasis disease
22 Percent of Resettled Refugees in Minnesota Test Positive for Tuberculosis
More than one-third of refugees in Vermont test positive for tuberculosis
CDC Official Says 'Thousands' May Have Arrived in US With Zika
Measles outbreak traced back to inmate at Arizona immigrant detention facility
Each time one of these refugees commit a horrific Crime, excuses will be made. I’m sick of being lied to.
They are Muslims, right? Kerry’s “other” groups are not Muslims. I am virtually certain that a randomly selected Muslim who passes Kerry’s screening is about 10x the risk of terrorism than a randomly selected non-Muslim who passes the same screening.
Until there is evidence.
Too late of course.
Shut up Horse face. When Americans want any crap out of you, we’ll unscrew your head and dip it out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.