Tillis Joins Call For Syrian Refugee Program Pause Until Authorities Can Detect Fake ISIS Passports | Eastern NC Now

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) joined seven senators today calling for a pause in the Syrian and Iraqi refugee programs until authorities are able to detect the use of fake passports following reports ISIS has a "fake document industry" with passport machines and blank passports. In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, the senators called for new measures to ensure false documents can be detected during the screening process before any more Syrian or Iraqi refugees are admitted to the United States. The letter was also signed by Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Enzi (R-WY), and Steve Daines (R-MT).

 "The threat to the United States posed by ISIS-created Syrian passports is now imminent," the senators wrote. "That danger will continue to grow so long as our enemies are able to perfect these passports and exploit loopholes in refugee programs. ISIS is an enemy that constantly adapts around our security posture, and there is no room for error when it comes to protecting our citizens from their brutal terror campaign."

 It has been reported by Homeland Security Intelligence Reports that ISIS has access to "boxes of blank passports," and just last week ABC News reported that the terrorist group has created an entire "industry" producing fake passports. Senator Kirk has repeatedly called for a pause in the Syrian and Iraqi refugee programs until the Administration can be certain terrorists are not abusing the program and sneaking into the United States with fake documentation.

 The text of the letter can be seen here and is below.

• Contact:
•  Daniel Keylin/Meghan Burris (Tillis)
•  (202) 224-6342