Top House Republican Michael McCaul Fears Terror-Linked Individuals Targeting US Refugee Program

[alp227]

Source: ABC

U.S. intelligence officials believe individuals linked to terror groups in Syria have tried to enter the United States as refugees, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said in a national security address today.

McCaul’s comments were sourced to an unclassified letter from the National Counterterrorism Center he received earlier this week, which said the center has identified “individuals with ties to terrorist groups in Syria attempting to gain entry into the U.S. through the U.S. refugee program.”

Federal officials have previously indicated that terrorist groups have wanted to exploit the refugee program into the United States.

The Texas Republican said the United States has entered a new phase in the fight against terror, citing last week’s San Bernardino, California, shooting that killed 14 people as “a call to action."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/top-house-republican-michael-mccaul-fears-terror-linked/story?id=35635873

[nitpicker]

1. thehill.com take on this

http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/262316-isis-has-targeted-refugee-program-to-enter-us-chairman-says
(snip)

Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) revealed portions of a classified letter from the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) on Monday, which offered new claims not previously disclosed by the Obama administration.
(snip)

The NCTC has identified “individuals with ties to terrorist groups in Syria attempting to gain entry to the U.S. through the U.S. refugee program,” the intelligence agency told McCaul in a letter.
(snip)

McCaul disclosed the NCTC’s analysis during a speech at the National Defense University. He initially claimed that ISIS, in particular, had considered taking advantage of the refugee program, though his office later called that a “misstatement.”
(snip)

The White House would not confirm or deny McCaul’s claim, which he was initially reluctant to link to the NCTC.
(snip)

A spokesman with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence also declined to comment on the record about the assertion.

[yellowcanine]

5. If it was a classified letter how come he is revealing parts of it????

[winstars]

2. Of course ISIL would try to do this, and then the system worked, the vetting process that is...

[Democat]

3. Of course they will try to use the program

Imagine the trouble it would cause in the United States if they could get a fake refugee into the country and successfully pull off a terrorist attack. If they did it before the next election, it could change the future leader of the country.

There is no doubt they will try. Obama should be very sure they don't succeed.

[yellowcanine]

4. I guess I missed the part where the San Bernardino killers were Syrian refugees.

The one was an American citizen and the other was Pakistani?

[pampango]

6. A 'top republican' tells us that a liberal policy should be abandoned due to FEAR. That certainly

has a familiar ring to it. Funny how FEAR should always make us do conservative things.