In wake of Paris attacks, Tester works to bolster national security

Senator asks tough questions about refugee process, will attend Thursday hearing on ISIL

(U.S. Senate) – After last week’s horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, Senator Jon Tester is working to strengthen American national security and ensure law enforcement and intelligence agencies are fully prepared to protect the United States.

Tester sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, asking him specific questions to ensure the process used to screen refugees is stringent and prevents potential threats to Americans. The Administration is proposing to accept 10,000 refugees fleeing extreme violence in the Middle East as a result of ISIL and Syria’s ongoing civil war.

“It is critical that the United States take urgent and comprehensive steps to ensure our nation is doing absolutely everything it can to protect our citizens from similar acts,” wrote Tester, a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. “At the same time, we need to work collaboratively with our allies to bring the perpetrators of such attacks to justice, to deny terrorists the safe havens they seek, and to responsibly address the refugee crisis spreading throughout the region and Europe.”

The Senator will also attend a Homeland Security Committee hearing on Thursday entitled, “The Impact of ISIS on the Homeland and Refugee Resettlement.” There, he will ask tough questions about the refugee screening process and how to counter potential threats to the homeland.

Tomorrow’s Homeland Security Committee hearing will be livestreamed HERE beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. MST.

Tester’s letter to Homeland Security Secretary Johnson is available online HERE.