And how immigrants are bedded. Congressman labrador of idaho shares the house judiciary subcommittee on Border Security. This is one hour and a half. Subcommittee on immigration and Border Security will come to order. Without objection, we declare recesses of the committee at any time. We welcome everyone to todays hearing on oversight of the United StatesRefugee Admissions Program and i now recognize myself for an opening statement. I have long been a supporter of us refugee admission programs and the importance humanitarian is missions it serves. The United States and the peace and democracy under which we live should give hope to those around the world to face persecution by their government. Their home commies can appoint the free of such [inaudible] as a former immigration lawyer i seen the us rap at work firsthand. I have seen those who have been able to avail themselves of it come to this country and five. Just like with many Government Programs that start out with best intentions and over the years proved to me to update the time has come for reform of the program. A few problems i have come to light in recent years include fraud, unchecked executive 30, threats or National Security. The House Judiciary Committee has highlighted some of these deficiencies over the last few years. For instance, we all know that through testimony in 2015 the former fbi director made troubling statements about the inability of Law Enforcement officials to properly that africans for refugee status. Former Administration Officials acknowledged in testimony to this committee that state and local competitions 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 and their concern the abuse of the states 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 reports issue this past spring. This highlights potential fraud in the process. These issue i have mentioned as well as others lead me to introduce hr 28 and 26 Integrity Restoration act of 2017. Among other things to build the energy [inaudible] i am placing the response the word should be, with us in paris. The bill also recognizes the states and localities should have a true stay in whether or not their communities are resettling refugees and hr 26 contains provisions help us to stop fraud and concerns. This test is a marked the end of the 120 travel suspension for refugees and i know the Relevant Department have instituted and screening and betting procedures for refugee applicants for the application process, the interview and three the system checks conducted on applicants. The Previous Administration always stated in response to any security related questions about the programs that [inaudible] 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 thats within months of taking over the new administration has identified several areas in which betting could be improved and 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 that the balance of my time. I now recognize our Ranking Member from california for time. My highest priority is protecting our National Securi security. Todays hearing presents an opportunity to examine a threat to that security. President trumps anti refugee agenda. Mr. Trump has characterized immigrants generally in refugees in particular as bad actors bent on harming americans. The conservative Cato Institute founded the odds of an american being killed in a terrorist attack by a refugee are one in 3. 64 billion. By comparison, the odds of being struck by lightning are one in 700,000. The truth is this. It is not refugees that undermine our nation security. It is mr. Trumps radical restrictions on admissions and those include multiple refugee vans, a record low and imposed at the time of record high global displacement. Its 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 anti muslim sentiment that fuels isis agreement. Brian crocker, former ambassador to iraq and afghanistan preserved under public in and Democratic Organization said this way. Those who stand against them say they are protecting the nation. They are not. Theyre putting it at greater risk by reinforcing the Islamic State emeritus and in other words, donald trump actions galvanize individuals bent on committing terrorist attacks against americans. Second, those policies damage partnerships with key allies in the fight against terrorism. Michael, dj secretary under george w. Bush specifically warned of the implications for our iraqi allies. Some 60000 of them await Refugee Resettlement in america and many of their lives are at risk because of their assistance to the American Military and state department. Yet, the record low fiscal year 2018 refugee sealing means that only a small portion of them will be resettled. 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 anti terror initiatives. This leaves all americans more vulnerable to terrorist attack. Such National Security consequences are so significant that white house aide even muller appeared to have deliberately marginalized key us defense and National Security agencies in order to push through the record low refugee camp according to a report, muller cut out the National Counterterrorism center at fbi, Defense Department and joint chiefs of staff, our Core National stakeholders from discussions about reducing Refugee Resettlement. It even close to the state Department Official who stated that mr. Muller suppressed evidence that was important to consider in determining the refugee number that would be beneficial with National Security interests. This gives the troubling appearance of the Trump Administration prioritizes anti refugee agenda over the safety of the American People. I, along with my colleagues support rigorous vetting measures and as noted, we have no higher duty than protecting the American People but let us hope this administration will not use claims of National Security or reviews of National Betting procedures as cover for implementing a backdoor muslim man. After all, numerous federal courts challenged the admission claim that its previous man squarely advanced National Security objectives. Refugees do more than just improve our National Security. They are core to our american identity and values. Past president s of both parties have embraced them and contrary to this administration suggestions numerous studies prove they enhance our economy. Health and Human Services itself produce one of those studies only for the administration to reportedly suppress it. 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 significantly more likely americans were thereby create jobs for American Workers and in my own district refugees have enriched our community. Im deeply troubled by the disconnect between the administrations rhetoric and reality and i hope todays hearing will show greater regard for the truth. We owe it to the American People to eliminate mr. Trumps anti refugee policy, violate our values, damage our economy, make all of us less safe but i would also like to add that when refugees and [inaudible] enter our country they have Constitutional Rights that must be respected. Im sure we will explore that further in the course of his hearing. I yield back the balance of the time. Thank you. I would now like to recognize the full Committee Chairman of virginia for his opening statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I much appreciate you holding this hearing today on this very important issue with this outstanding panel of witnesses. The United States has a generous Refugee Program as provided millions people playing persecution. We resettled [inaudible] refugees and the last fiscal year we rattled 53716 refugees. While we should continue the great tradition it has become clear that our refugee laws and policies have been abused and they need to perform. The refugee act of 1980 created our current Refugee Resettlement process in which the president sets the annual limit for the number of refugees the United States can resettled during the next fiscal year. He sets forth who can be admissible as refugee and how and when those refugees can adjust to lawful permanent status. He is put in place a process for the federal government to work through nongovernmental agencies to be settled refugees. Thirtyseven years later members of congress and the American Public are voicing a growing number of concern about how many in the process through which refugees are admitted to the United States as well as what happens once they are admitted. The federal government has done little to respect those concerns. Under the Previous Administration when a state or locality expressed concerns about Refugee Resettlement the Administration Simply repeated the soundbites that refugees undergo the most rigorous background checks of any immigrants tonight six. That same and ignored the concerns of several Security Officials that if there is no information regarding a potential refugee in the databases that are checked then no derogatory information will show up during the check and it ignores the fact that in many states from which refugees are admitted failed state there is no reliable information about refugees. We know thats over 300 individuals being actively investigated for terrorist related activities by the fbi came to the United States as refugees and we know that at least two of the ten successful terrorist attacks carried out on us soil since september 11, 2001 were perpetrated by individuals who entered the United States as refugees. In addition to security concerns if a state or locality expressed concerns about the cost of Refugee Resettlement or the lack of available Employment Opportunities the Prior Administration did little in response. It was simply their view that the federal government has the right to resettle refugees all across america. While that may be true, it is not necessarily the best practice. I know that many resettlement organizations do wonderful and necessary work but essentially ignoring the pleas of communities across the us and leaving Refugee Resettlement decisions to the Administration Simply feeds opposition to refugee admissions on the whole. I know the Trump Administration has already addressed some of the concerns i have addressed today. I was happy to see that executive order 13780 signed on march 6, 2017 recognizes the problem with a lack of state and local consultation prior to resettlement. They asked the secretary of state to devise a plan to promote state and local involvement in resettlement decisions. Course, the same executive order requires a review of refugee processing to determine what improvements could be made to the process and then to implement those improvements. I look forward to hearing today how the department of Homeland Security state and health and Human Services are working together to improve the entire us Refugee Admissions Program from referral to post resettlement. The program can remain unpalatable and viable part of Us Immigration policy. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I back the next i would like to recognize the full committee Ranking Member mr. Conyers of michigan will. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Top of the morning witnesses and everyone else here. Over the course of todays hearing on the United StatesRefugee Mission program there are several factors that i want our witnesses and our members to consider. To begin with, it is incontrovertible that the United States, since its founding, has been a nation of immigrants. In recognition of the fact and of the undeniable value that immigrants contribute to our collective wellbeing, it has provided safe harbor for the persecuted. True to these values, past president s, republican and democrat alike, have championed robust Refugee Resettlement. For example, the annual refugee admissions has averaged 94000 since the refugee act of 1980, making america the world resettlement leader. In 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 Administration in strict fashion abandoned americans bipartisan leadership in this arena. Pursuant to executive orders President Trump issued a series of refugee bands. He then set a fiscal year 2008 ceiling of 45000. The lowest in modern history. In terms of refugee capital resettlement that breaks the United States behind eight other nations. Under any circumstance these actions would fly in the face of our countrys values but coming at a time when worldwide refugee level have soared to the highest in history this cap to me is on conscionable and worst yet, the administration reported justification toward its actions are baseless. For instance, the administration argues with the Refugee Program poses a security threat. Needless to say, democrats stand committed to rigorous refugee betting but National Security experts from both parties agree that it is the absence of robust resettlement that truly undermines americas safety. By slashing refugee admissions President Trump damages, to me, key alliances in the ongoing fight against terrorism and strengthens isis equipment. The administration also claims that refugees failed to assimilate and that they join public resources. Again, however, the facts are otherwise. According to reports in internal study by the department of health and Human Services suppressed by the administration shows that refugees contributed a net positive 63 billion to the United States over a tenyear period. It is not refugees but the president s restrictions of their admission that saps the nations coffers. In some President Trumps policies dont just lead tens of thousands of refugees in limbo and danger, they dont just violate core American Values but they weaken our National Security, damage our economy, undermine our nations core values. All of this begs the question of what really fuels such p