Since 9/11, Zero Resettled Refugees Arrested on Domestic Terror Charges, Says Rep. Xavier Becerra

By Michael Oleaga First Posted: Nov 17, 2015 11:30 AM EST

Of the hundreds of thousands of refugees resettled in the U.S., since Sept. 11, 2001, not one has been arrested for domestic terrorism, said Rep. Xavier Becerra.

On Tuesday morning, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., defended President Barack Obama's deferred action programs, called for the passage of comprehensive immigration reform and the acceptance of Syrian refugees.

"Like France, we hold up the work that we do in this country to preserve freedom. We cherish our democracy and we do everything we can to make this the land of the free, to make it a place where people will find home, and because we are a nation of immigrants, we make it very clear that if you come to work and build this country -- you have a home," said Becerra.

Becerra repeated that the immigration system is broken, "in so many ways," and while many bipartisan lawmakers acknowledge the need to fix it, the Democratic caucus chairman said there's unfortunately still word that reforms will not be introduced during "fresh, new" House Speaker Paul Ryan's, R-Wisc., leadership while President Barack Obama remains in office.

Becerra acknowledged that immigration reform would not only improve national security but good for the economy and families.

"We know that there will be more job growth if we fixed the broken immigration system. We know that we would decrease our federal budgets by having a system of immigration that works and we know that we would strengthen programs like Social Security if we had an immigration system that works," said Becerra.

With growing political discussions on accepting Syrian refugees in the U.S., Becerra said there is a "respect" and "understand the need" to be accepting of refugees. He noted 750,000 refugees have been resettled in the U.S. since Sept. 11, 2001, and not one has been arrested on domestic terrorism charges.

Speaking further on Obama's deferred action programs -- the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which would grant approximately 4.9 million eligible undocumented immigrants with temporary three-year stay in the U.S., but has been placed on hold due to legal action -- Pelosi said such stalling "only perpetuates" the broken immigration system, thus tearing more families apart and not serve American interest.

"We must not continue to defer the dreams of hardworking immigrant families who give so much to our community," said Pelosi, adding that it is "stunning" for people to claim Obama had no authority to issue the immigration executive actions, which has been done by previous presidents before him.

Pelosi said Obama acted as a result of the congressional inaction, and while she is confident the Supreme Court will uphold DAPA and DACA's expansion, it is not substitute for Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform.