U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) issued the following statement after the Paris terror attacks and the Syrian refugees coming into the United States:

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of these heinous attacks and their families.  It was just a few days ago that President Obama stated that ISIS had been contained. The terrorist acts in Paris unequivocally disprove this. It is more imperative than ever that President Obama put together a real plan and an international coalition to take real action to destroy ISIS. We’ve also learned that at least one of the attackers entered Europe posing as a Syrian refugee. This makes the president’s plan to allow ten thousand Syrian refugees into the United States all the more reckless. First and foremost, our borders need to be fully secured. We should also not allow anybody into our country who could pose a threat to America. That’s why, today, I cosponsored legislation that would prohibit any refugee from entering the United States unless the government can certify and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that that individual does not pose a threat to America. We must put the safety of our country and her people first.”

The legislation, the American SAFE Act, would require the FBI Director to certify background checks have been thoroughly administered for refugees entering from Syria and Iraq. It would also require the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the Director of the FBI and the Attorney General, to affirm that every refugee being admitted is not a security threat. Lastly, to ensure the vetting process works effectively, this legislation would require the Office of the Inspector General to conduct an audit.