NOTE TO STUDENTS: This article is quite lengthy and might seem slightly complicated, but is important to understand. To aid your comprehension:

• Print the article before reading.
• Number the paragraphs from 1-24.
• Read once, and as you do: circle or highlight the names of all people and organizations; underline important events or points.
• Read the questions. Then read the article a second time.
• Refer to the questions as you read – write the number of the question in the paragraph(s) in which you find the answer.

1. Write the word from the article next to its definition.
derogatory     rigorous     asylum     red flag     refugee     glitch     vetting    exhaustive

1. __________ a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war or persecution
2. __________ conducting a background check on someone
3. __________ a minor problem that causes a temporary setback
4. __________ detracting from the character or standing of something
5. __________ a sign that there is a problem that should be noticed or dealt with
6. __________ thorough; comprehensive; including all possibilities
7. __________ done carefully and with a lot of attention to detail
8. __________ the protection granted by a nation to someone who has left their native country as a political refugee

2. Describe the “glitch” in the vetting process for Syrian refugees being brought into to the U.S. by President Obama. (see para. 1-2, 11-13)

3. a) When was the “glitch” in the refugee vetting system discovered?
b) How long did it take the government to fix this issue?

4. What number of refugees admitted to the U.S. are being re-vetted because of red flags? (See para. 15 - what number is several dozen?)

5. The reporter writes in para. 2, “At a minimum, the intelligence would have triggered further investigation that could have led some asylum applications to be rejected.” Why would the applications of some Syrian refugees have been rejected?

6. a) What assurances have Obama administration officials given about the threat posed by Syrian refugees? (see para. 7)
b)

7. Testifying before Congress in September, Leon Rodriguez, then-Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, noted that since the 9/11 terror attacks, “not a single act of terrorist violence has been committed by a refugee who has undergone our screening procedures.”
What fact does the LA Times reporter note about Iraqi refugees in 2001?

FOR DISCUSSION: Despite the fact that 53% of Americans opposed his plan, President Obama greatly increased the number of Syrians being brought into the U.S. He said he wanted to address the humanitarian crisis in Syria.
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump argued that terrorists might seek to hide among refugees and said accepting Syrian refugees is a national security risk.
Over 4 million Syrians have left their country since the civil war started in 2011. Most have gone to Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Germany.
The U.S. has taken less that one-half of one percent (<.5%) of the 4-5 million Syrian refugees who have left Syria. The Obama administration has insisted the refugee screening process is exhaustive and rigorous.
President Trump has been considering a temporary freeze on the Syrian refugee program.
What do you think? Should President Trump put a temporary hold on the program? Can the government properly vet people coming from Syria? Is bringing Syrian people here the best way to help them?
Explain your answer.