Congressman Mike Rogers sent a letter to Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week after learning from media reports that a group of refugees from Syria crossed the U.S.-Mexican border into Texas and had turned themselves in to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seeking asylum.

Refugees who are arrested or turn themselves in to Customs officials may be able to file an asylum claim and remain in the U.S. pending deportation proceedings. Because of this, Rogers has serious concerns that any refugees able to make it to the United States will bypass the refugee vetting process and instead use the asylum process to stay in the country. Not thoroughly vetting each individual could put our homeland and Americans in serious danger.

The letter states, “This message must be reinforced by the immediate return of all refugees to their most recent country of residence by any means possible after a thorough security screening. Refugees should be returned to the country from which they tried to enter the US, such as Mexico, if they cannot be returned to their home country. It is imperative that our neighbors know they cannot be complicit in the flow of refugees to America’s doorstep. The notion of the US border as a goal line for refugees will only create a broader humanitarian problem and endanger our national security. The asylum process often releases asylum seekers into the country on their own recognizance and that will only serve to intensify concerns that the refugee population is being introduced into the United States without proper vetting.”

Rogers added, “After the recent terrorist attacks and warnings of more, the United States must be diligent in ensuring we keep out those who wish us harm and do our best to protect our national security. President Obama’s reckless plan to allow thousands of Syrian refugees into our country could put us in danger. We must make sure we are very watchful of any manner in which these refugees may try to enter the U.S.”

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