Jeb Bush in Syrian Refugee Crisis

On Foreign Policy: Duty to protect religious minorities & Christian refugees

Q: Let me ask you about your position on refugees. You mention that perhaps an approach might be to allow Christian Syrian refugees in. How would having a kind of religious test like that, wouldn't that play into the narrative ISIS wants, which is, this is a battle between the Christians and Islam?

BUSH: Look, it is already in the law that there is a requirement to screen for religion. This is the practice of our country. There was a bipartisan bill that of course didn't pass in Congress this year to provide preference for Christians who are being slaughtered in the Middle East, persecuted based on their faith. Religious minorities, I think, should have some preference. I think we ought to do what we can to provide support for the refugees. The best means to do it are safe havens inside of Syria. That is ultimately what we need to do, and this president hasn't led in that regard.

Source: CBS Face the Nation 2015 coverage of Syrian Refugee crisis Nov 29, 2015

On Foreign Policy: Syrian refugee camps in Jordan are really quite nice

Q: You recently visited some Syrian refugee camps in Jordan and spoke with some of the refugees. Did you ask them would they rather remain in this refugee camp than be resettled in America?

CARSON: Their true desire is to be resettled in Syria. But, you know, they are satisfied to be in the refugee camps if the refugee camps are adequately funded. Recognize that, in these camps, they have schools. They have recreational facilities that are really quite nice. And they are putting in all kinds of things that make life more tolerable. Would it be better integrate them into the society? Yes, I certainly talked to some people about that. But you have to make progress as you go.

Source: Meet the Press 2015 interviews on Syrian Refugee crisis Nov 15, 2015

On Homeland Security: Syrian refugees already in US can stay

Q: I want to ask you about something that we're hearing coming out of Tennessee, one of the top Republican lawmakers there has actually suggested using the National Guard to round up the refugees who are already settled in the U.S. and send them back. And I wonder if, given your concerns about the screening process of refugees, if you would favor such a move?

CARSON: I think that may be a little bit extreme, to be honest with you. But rather than have to face situations like that, let's go ahead and support the efforts that already exist that really will take care of millions of people. And why would we continue to increase the complexity of the situation in this country without solving the problem by bringing people over here who are not adequately screened? That doesn't make a lot of sense.

Source: Meet the Press 2015 interviews on Syrian Refugee crisis Nov 15, 2015

The above quotations are from Opinions and policy on the Syrian Refugee crisis. Click here for other excerpts from Opinions and policy on the Syrian Refugee crisis. Click here for other excerpts by Jeb Bush. Click here for a profile of Jeb Bush.
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Page last updated: Dec 03, 2021