Very Few Immigration Vetting Failures of Terrorists Since 9/11

President Trump ’sexecutive order attempted to temporarily ban all refugees and all travelers or immigrants from six African and Middle Eastern countries due to a concern over widespread vetting failures. The purpose of the temporary ban was to give the administration time to “improve the screening and vetting protocols and procedures.” The order grounded this concern in one fact:Recent history shows that some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proved to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of persons born abroad have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the United States.These statements contain four clear implications: 1) that these “hundreds of persons born abroad” committed acts of terrorism in the United States; 2) that they came to the United States “through our immigration system,” 3) that they entered since 2001, 4) that better “screening and vetting protocols” could have prevented their entry, and 5) these of fenders pose a significant threat to Americans. Each one of these implications is false. Here are the facts:1)      Not “hundreds of persons” committingterrorism in theUnited States: Only 55 percent of people convicted of “terrorism-related” offenses according to the federal government are, in fact, convicted of involvement in terrorism.2)      Not “hundreds” through our immigration system: Less than 200 foreigners convicted of or killed during terr...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs