2020 RI Senate race: on Foreign Policy

Jack Reed: Allow in Syrian refugees looking for opportunity

Reed visited in response to a recent announcement by the Trump Administration that it plans to lower the number of refugees the United States would accept next fiscal year to 18,000, the lowest number since 1980. Last year, the administration reduced the cap to 30,000 from 45,000.

Reed opposes the cuts, as well as moves by the administration to give cities and states new powers to refuse to accept refugees.

"People come here looking for opportunity," Reed said. Reed and the advocates said that refugees are put through a rigorous vetting procedure and are in fact "the most vetted population in the U.S."