Rocky Chavez in Syrian Refugee Crisis


On Homeland Security: Block Syrian refugees until we upgrade our intel and vetting

Accept Syrian refugees? Republican Rocky Chavez says, "One, security is important, but two, we need to understand we are a country that has always been a home for those who are hungry and tired and oppressed."

Another Republican Senate candidate, former state party chief Tom Del Beccaro, was more comfortable with blocking refugees. "The wise thing would be to upgrade our ability and our intel and if we are satisfied, if we are able to vet people, we could look to resuming it," he said. "We shouldn't move too quickly. Just like our mothers taught us, safety first." But he too expressed hope that the discussion of refugees could lead to a refreshed conversation about immigration.

Source: LA Times, "Syrian Refugees?" on 2016 California Senate race Nov 22, 2015

On Immigration: We are home for the tired and oppressed, even Syrians

Accept Syrian refugees? The desire for a middle ground was evident in interviews with some candidates for the 2016 Senate contest. Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris said she opposed the GOP measure because it set up an "untenable" system: She said, "There is a drum beating, that the way to keep us safe is to keep outsiders out. That scares me." But, she added, "there's no question that we have to be vigilant."

Republican Rocky Chavez sounded remarkably like her. "One, security is important, but two, we need to understand we are a country that has always been a home for those who are hungry and tired and oppressed," said Chavez. He recalled the internment in the 1940s of Japanese Americans who posed no threat, and of America's earlier reluctance to accept Jews escaping Nazi Germany. "That didn't set well in history," he said, adding that "a measured approach is often the best approach. We should not take counsel from our fears and we should not take positions that go against our values."

Source: LA Times, "Syrian Refugees?" on 2016 California Senate race Nov 22, 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 Rocky Chavez.
Click here for a profile of Rocky Chavez.
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Page last updated: Dec 03, 2021