US House Task Force Introduces Bill to Pause Syrian Refugee Program

US House of Representatives task force introduced a bill to take a pause in refugee program in order to verify that terrorists are not trying to infiltrate the refugee population, according to Speaker Paul Ryan.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A new US House of Representatives task force has introduced legislation to address the threat of terrorists infiltrating the Syrian refugee population, Speaker Paul Ryan said on Tuesday.

"We think the prudent, responsible thing is to take a pause in this particular aspect of this refugee program in order to verify that terrorists are not trying to infiltrate the refugee population," Ryan stated in a press briefing.

Following the Friday terrorist attacks in Paris that left at least 130 people dead, French police reported that one of the attackers was carrying a Syrian passport and may have entered the country through the refugee program.

"This is a moment where it is better to be safe than to be sorry," Ryan stated of the proposed pause in the Syrian refugee program.

Ryan and other House Republicans argued the United States lacks the ability to appropriately vet that larger number of Syrian refugees.

The White House announced earlier this year the United States would accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016.