WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued the following statement announcing he will vote in favor of the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act, which would implement key security provisions to help ensure that refugees from Syria and Iraq do not pose security threats to the United States:

“Protecting the American people and securing the homeland is the federal government’s number one responsibility, and the reality is that it would only take one error in the refugee screening process to produce a catastrophic result for our nation. We already know that ISIS terrorists are actively posing as refugees to infiltrate western nations, and we must adjust our policies accordingly to directly address this threat. The legislation I support will do just that by strengthening the screening process for certain refugees and requiring certification from the appropriate federal agencies and departments. It’s important to remember that the refugee crisis in Syria and Iraq has been worsened by President Obama’s failure to execute a winning strategy against ISIS. Rather than issue veto threats for this commonsense legislation, the President should be working with our allies to create safe zones for refugees inside Syria and pursuing a role for NATO to provide them with security.”

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