I have a ton of catching up to do after being out in California for a week. So, let’s see if I can post on a bunch of topics and not say too much!
Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Lou Barletta chose to talk about the threat posed by Syrian refugees entering the US to a local audience in Hazelton, PA. Barletta is on the House Homeland Security Committee that heard testimony, here, the week before last.
Here is some of what he had to say from the Times-Leader:
HAZLETON — The city’s native son returned Wednesday to talk about threats at home.
U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, said he enjoys coming home and he got to renew friendships with about 50 members of the Hazleton Rotary Club at Genetti’s on Route 309.
[….]
The issue of illegal immigration brought Barletta to the national stage. When he was mayor of Hazleton, Barletta felt his city faced a serious financial dilemma because of illegal immigrants residing in the city but not paying taxes.
Barletta contended that his city’s population doubled while its tax revenue stayed the same.
[….]
Barletta said he has expressed concern about Syrian refugees being admitted to the U.S. At a recent House Homeland Security Committee hearing he quizzed experts on the extent of U.S. intelligence gathering capabilities while the State Department considers admitting up to 2,000 Syrian refugees in the coming year. [For new readers, there is a push on to admit 65,000 Syrians before Obama leaves office—ed]
At that hearing, Barletta noted that Syria is a hotbed for terrorism, and he questioned witnesses at the hearing regarding America’s ability to properly vet those under consideration for refugee status and relocation to the the United States.
Barletta said the United States has to take a serious stand on the issue. He also said any U.S. citizen who goes to Syria to train with ISIS should not be allowed back into the country.
“They are traitors,” he said. “And traitors should not be allowed to come back into this country.”
By the way, most of those going to train with ISIS are immigrants we ‘welcomed’ to America at one point in time.
There is more.
I’m posting this to remind readers that your Member of Congress is home in the district for the 4th of July holiday and it is a good time to discuss refugee resettlement with them. Every little way you can throw a shoe in the machinery of this government is useful!
Pennsylvania is rapidly becoming a leading refugee resettlement state.