Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday at the Democratic presidential debate that she thought halting the admission of Syrian refugees to the United States “isn’t necessary.”
Some Republican candidates have said that the process of admitting refugees to the U.S. should be put on pause, while Republican Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has gone as far as proposing that all Muslims be banned from entering the country. New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan (D), who was in the audience at the Granite State debate, also has advocated a halt to the admittance of Syrian refugees until the screening process is strengthened.
Clinton said that the country should continue to accept refugees but have a tough screening process in place to do so.
“I don’t think a halt is necessary,” Clinton said. “What we have to do is put all of our resources through the Department of Homeland Security, through the State Department, through our intelligence agencies, and we have to have an increased vetting and screening.”
Clinton went on to say that it might take up to two years to vet the refugees, and that she would prioritize widows, orphans, and the elderly.
“So I know it’s not going to happen overnight. And everything that can be done should be done,” Clinton said. “But the process should move forward while we are also taking on ISIS, putting together the kind of strategy that I’ve advocated for, and making sure that the vetting and the screening is as tough as possible.”
