a State of Minnesota November 24, 2015 ‘The Honorable Mark Dayton 116 Veterans Service Building 20 West 12th Street Saint Paul, MN 55155, Dear Governor Dayton: The recent attacks in Paris have rightfully brought renewed interest in the president’s program to resettle 10,000 refugees from Syria, We are a generous nation, with a rich history of welcoming individuals who are in danger. While we are sympathetic to the plight of Syrian refugees, we must be careful not to act on emotion without consideration for the safety of our constituents. Our first responsibility is to protect this country. ISIS has promised to launch attacks on foreign soil, and Americans are worried about our ability to stop them, A recent Bloomberg poll shows only 28 percent of Americans support accepting more Syrian refuugees'. After receiving feedback from constituents, we believe that this is also true in Minnesota Given that terrorists have already snuck into our country posing as refugees’; that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper warned that ISIS could infiltrate refugees*; and that offi such as FBI Director James Comey and former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers® have expressed concems about our ability to fully vet refugees, it appears Americans have good reason to be concerned. As of this writing, a bipartisan group of 31 govemors have sent letters to the president rejecting Syrian refugees until we have indisputable assurances that there are no gaps in our sereening process. We strongly encourage you to do the same, Minnesotans are counting on us to act. There are more preferable options, In addition to asking the president to abandon his push to accept 10,000 more Syrian refugees, we request you ask him to aggressively explore establishing “safe zones” within Syria. ‘These zones would offer protection to the families that are in danger while continuing to protect Americans, and all Minnesotans, from the unknown and obvious risk of terrorists slipping into our state and country, We strongly support helping those in need. However, until we have absolute certainty that no terrorists are able to abuse our generosity and take advantage of the system, itis in our bestinterest to temporarily halt the acceptance of Syrian refugees. On behalf of all of our constituents and our state, please join us in this effort. Sincerely, 1 ed Malad. Senator Torrey Westrom Senator Bruce Anderson MM hatth Bere. Senator Michelle Benson bye Buu, Senator David Brown Senator Roger Chamberlin — Alarey Senator Gary Dahms Mele Senator Michelle Fischbach feere 2rites Senator Paul Gazelka Lm Lhe Senator Dan Hall ie Ree Senator Julie Rosen Cade Ko Senator David Hann Bai Senator Bil Ingebrigtsen Senator Mary Kiffmeyer ae Alpe Fyne Senator Warren Limmer Senator Scott Newman. gp Senator David Osmek CDS pen Senator David Senjem Weber _ Senator 4. Tov, Margaret “Bloomberg Pall: Most Americans Oppose yan Refugee Resettlement.” Bloomberg Now. 18,2015. 2 Mee, James, and Brian Ross. "Terraits Once Used Relugee Program ta Sein US” ABC Nev. Nov. 18, 2015 53 Taylr, Guy. “James Capper: lami State could nitrate US, West through migrants fling fom Syria.” Washington Times. Sep. 9 2085 4 Yateley in ingly Finds Mounting Prot of Sra in Pars Attacks,” New York Times, Nov 35,2015, 5 Hatem Julian, "Ex House ntligence chairman: Retugees canbe fly vette.” The il Nov. 15, 2015.