President Barack Obama took the opportunity this Thanksgiving to appeal to Americans' generosity in welcoming Syrian refugees.

In his weekly address on Thursday, the president reminded the country of the Pilgrims who fled to America in 1620 to escape persecution.

"Nearly four centuries after the Mayflower set sail, the world is still full of pilgrims -- men and women who want nothing more than the chance for a safer, better future for themselves and their families," Obama said.

Obama's determination to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees has garnered much political criticism from the right wing, especially in light of the recent terror attacks. Later evidence indicated that two of the Islamic State militants responsible for the deaths of 129 people may have infiltrated France among a group of refugees, or migrants.

Reuters reports Americans now view terrorism as the country's most significant problem, according to recent polls.

Republican presidential candidates have come out with strong rhetoric and proposals to combat terrorism. Donald Trump vowed to deport over 2,000 Syrian refugees if elected, and suggested a system that would force U.S. Muslims to register in a security database.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would require refugees to be certified by the secretary of Homeland Security, the FBI director and the director of national entry before being allowed entry to the Untied States.

Obama has promised to veto the bill in the unlikely event it manages to pass in the Senate. Nevertheless, the White House said it work with Congress to help tighten security measures towards visitors from countries that don't require visas for short trips to the United States.

"People should remember that no refugee can enter our borders until they undergo the highest security checks of anyone traveling to the United States," said the president.

Watch the president's Thanksgiving address below.