John Kerry details refugee vetting process in four-and-a-half-page letter
The letter, sent to all U.S. governors, is dated Nov. 20.
After more than half of the nation’s governors — including Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker — voiced their opposition to admitting Syrian refugees into their states, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson wrote a four-and-a-half-page letter to governors across the country outlining the security procedures and vetting process in order to be granted refugee status in the United States.
“Our multi-agency system for vetting refugees is strong, and it has been significantly enhanced over the past few years,’’ the letter said. “Indeed, applicants for refugee admission are screened more carefully than any other type of traveler to the United States.’’
The letter, dated Nov. 20, said that the majority of Syrian refugees accepted by the U.S. are among the most vulnerable — families, torture victims, and children — who are also the most frequent victims of ISIS and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In response to Baker receiving the letter, Lizzy Guyton, Baker’s press secretary, issued the following statement to Boston.com:
“Governor Baker recognizes the obligation Massachusetts has in providing care for refugees resettled in the Commonwealth, and is working to ensure the public’s safety in the wake of recent, terrible tragedies despite the limited role that states play in the process.’’
The letter details the numerous stages for all applicant refugees who wish to come to the United States, and the multi-departmental and agency approach that includes security checks, biometrics, and interviews, spanning the United Nations as well as the U.S. Department of State, Citizen and Immigation Services, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, and Customs and Border Protection.
“Bottom line—under the current system, if there is doubt about whether an applicant would pose a security risk, that individual will not be admitted to the United States as a refugee,’’ the letter said.
Once accepted and resettled, the departments offer continued services to help the refugee become acclimated and self-sufficient within the new environment.
“We want to emphasize that no one has a right to be resettled in the United States as a refugee,’’ the letter said. “With every refugee application, the burden of proof is on the applicant — the refugee must show that he or she qualifies for refugee status.’’
After initially saying he wouldn’t support resettling refugees in Massachusetts without reviewing the federal process, Baker softened his stance and said on Monday that Massachusetts will continue to support refugees, the Associated Press reported.
“I don’t intend to have Massachusetts get out of the business of supporting refugee resettlement,’’ he said. “It’s something that we’ve been doing forever and we’re going to continue to collaborate and cooperate with the federal government on that.’’
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