SJR 21: Immigration: Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

This measure would urge Congress and the President of the United States to support the principles within the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, effectively strengthening the screening process for Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

WHEREAS, The United States is a diverse nation of immigrants and welcomes people from many nations escaping the clutches of tyranny and war; and

WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2016, the Obama administration remains committed to its goal of admitting at least 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Homeland Security has continued to allow refugees to enter the country through an inadequate screening process; and

WHEREAS, Terrorists have displayed the ability to exploit weaknesses in immigration and humanitarian refugee admission policies in the United States and worldwide; and

WHEREAS, On November 13, 2015, terrorists attacked Paris, France, killing 130 people and injuring 368 people, resulting in one of the deadliest attacks in modern times; and

WHEREAS, The citizens of the United States have suffered at the hands of terrorists, most recently in San Bernardino, California, with the killing of 14 people and injuring 22 people and the attacks on September 11, 2001; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of California, jointly, That the United States has the responsibility to the American people to ensure our national security; and be it further

Resolved, That the President of the United States, the Congress of the United States, and the California State Legislature have sworn an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; and be it further

Resolved, That, for the purposes of national security, the Legislature urges the President and Congress of the United States to support the principles within the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, effectively strengthening the screening process for Syrian and Iraqi refugees; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress of the United States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.