Reacting to the terrorist attacks in Paris, Kentucky Sen. [crscore]Rand Paul[/crscore] said Monday he plans to introduce legislation that would stop the United States from accepting refugees “from about 30 countries that have significant jihadist movements.”
Paul, running for president as a Republican, made the announcement during an afternoon call with reporters. The legislation is set for release later Monday, an aide said.
“Today I’m introducing a bill that will call for an immediate moratorium on visas for refugees,” the Kentucky Republican told reporters. “My bill will also stop all refugees as well as others from obtaining visas to immigrate, visit, or study in the U.S. from about 30 countries that have significant jihadist movements. This bill will be paid for with a special tax on arms sales to any of these countries.”
It’s been revealed that at least one of the terrorists involved in the Paris attacks entered France with migrants from Syria.
President Obama said Monday he still intends to go ahead with plans to allow 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States over the next year. Meanwhile, a number of governors separately announced Monday that will do what they can to stop any Syrian refugees from being placed in their states.
“I think that the best way to defend the country from attackers — attackers that really don’t have an army but would come here as individuals — is to make sure we try to prevent their access into our country,” Paul said.
“I think it’s about time,” Paul added. “And I think Paris should wake us up to the fact that we can’t just let anybody come to this country without background checks.”