NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers say they continue to get calls from their constituents expressing concern about the vetting process for allowing Syrian refugees in the state.
A joint legislative committee heard testimony yesterday from security officials and refugee advocates.
A highlight of the testimony came from David Shedd, former director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, who acknowledged there are some weaknesses in the federal vetting process.
But Shedd also stressed the importance of welcoming and assimilating refugees, something he says Europe has largely failed to do.
“The idea of assimilating them and embracing them and welcoming them as much as possible as quickly as possible is absolutely critical... I think that that is the forward motion to take, recognizing that there is still some level of risk.”
Following the terrorist attacks in Paris last month, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam called on the federal government to halt the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Tennessee unless state agencies can become involved in the vetting process.