In the wake of the terrorist attacks and other acts of violence committed by Syrian refugees, there have been calls by many to stem the flow of refugees from the war-torn country, but one Republican wants to fast-track at least some.
U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has offered a new bill to make it much easier for Christians and other religious minorities fleeing ISIS-related violence to resettle in the United States. Cotton—who has opposed past efforts by president Obama to accept Syrian refugees—noted Secretary of State John Kerry’s recent declaration that ISIS is carrying out genocide against Arab Christians, Yazidis, Shia Muslims and other religious minorities in discussing his legislation during a recent radio interview.
“I think the U.S. has a moral imperative to try and save these Christians and the other small minority groups,” he said. “So I would create a special kind of visa program that wouldn’t take any access away from anyone else in the United States, but would recognize that Christians—like Jews in the Soviet Union—are being singled out for persecution and elimination. That’s in our interest, as it is in combating the Islamic State.”
