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I am deeply concerned by President Obama’s decision to continue accepting an influx of Syrian refugees – an action that he defended as recently as today.  Also earlier today, Gov. Kasich called for a moratorium on accepting additional refugees coming to the United States because security and safety issues cannot be adequately addressed. I agree with Gov. Kasich. As unanswered questions remain about the screening process used for Syrian refugees admitted into the U.S., it is time for the State Department, at a bare minimum, to halt bringing more refugees into the United States and Ohio. If our government can’t properly certify that asylum seekers from Syria (or any country for that matter) don’t present a safety or security threat, then they shouldn’t be admitted into America.

There is no doubt in my mind that President Obama needs a more comprehensive plan than to simply “contain ISIS." Until leaders in the Middle East stand up and face the growing problem of Islamic extremism within their own borders, we can’t run the risk of importing more terrorists here.  I believe that, if possible, the United States should make efforts to aid those who are persecuted in the Middle East, especially the Christians who often are the first to suffer at the hands of these barbarians.

However, along with my colleagues, we took a sworn oath to the Constitution, which includes a duty to “provide for the common defense” and protect our citizens from harm. The security of the American people must remain our first priority.