Hoekstra: Properly Vetting Refugees From a Failed State Like Syria Near Impossible

Clip of Mike Huckabee: If the President is not going to stand up with a number one duty of protecting the American public then I'd like to think that the Republicans that we elected to be in the majority would stand up for the safety and security of the American people. Paul Ryan is the speaker, he can defund this program. He can make sure that the purse strings are never unleashed for it and I think it's important that he take that stand both visibly, vocally and even financially.

J.D. Hayworth: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a current presidential candidate on MSNBC's Morning Joe earlier today saying the responsibility to stop the President and his plan for bringing in refugees rests with new House Speaker Paul Ryan. This, as over half of the governors of our states say they do not want to take in Syrian refugees. Now this of course is in response to the Paris attacks, those attacks coordinated by ISIS with some of the attackers apparently gaining entry into Europe via refugee status. Let's talk about this with two guys very much in the know. First, Republican strategist Brad Blakeman. Brad, of course, former senior staff adviser to President George W. Bush. He joins us from Washington. Also joining us via Skype from Holland, Michigan the former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Pete Hoekstra. Pete now a senior fellow for the Investigative Project on Terrorism. He's also the author of the new book Architects of Disaster: The Destruction of Libya. And Pete it looks like there's a recipe for disaster domestically here. Reports indicate a Syrian refugee in Louisiana has already gone missing even though Baton Rouge station WBRZ reports that that Syrian refugee was later located out of state with another group. Doesn't this speak to a larger issue about the risk and the accountability involved?

Pete Hoekstra: I think it really does, J.D. When you're talking about vetting these folks who are coming, who want to come to United States, remember they're coming from a failed state. There's no one to vet them through or to vet them with. You can't talk to the Syrian government, there isn't a functioning government. The areas that they're coming from are under ISIS control or under rebel control. But you can't vet them, there's a risk. ISIS has already said they want to infiltrate these folks and they will plant ISIS supporters and terrorists in the groups coming in.

Hayworth: Brad, new Speaker Ryan says we really need to hit the pause button before letting refugees in. He's also saying the House could vote as early as this week on legislation on this issue. What do you think of the new Speaker's approach?

Bradley Blakeman: I think it's great but it's unfortunate the speaker even has to take this action. The president's oath is to preserve, protect and defend us and the president is clearly not doing that. As Congressman Hoekstra said, we have the right to vet the people who want to come here. They don't have a right to come here without an invitation. That invitation is only extended once we can validate who they are and they're not a risk to the population. So it's unfortunate the speaker has to do this but unfortunately the president is not looking out for our best interest and the best hope we have is for a strong Congress to push back.

Hayworth: And Pete you and I spent a lot of years together in the Congress. The legislative branch controls the purse strings. With a conflict under the Refugee Act of 1980 claiming that governors cannot legally block refugees from settling in their respective states, is the legislative cut off of appropriations really the only constitutional remedy available?

Hoekstra: I think that's exactly right. I applaud the governors for standing up, Republicans and Democrats, in saying this is a really bad idea, Mr. President. But this president has shown a great willingness to thwart the desire of the American public, government officials. Ryan and McConnell need to act. It is the most effective way to stop this president and to keep the country safe.

Hayworth: As you're talking we took a look at the map and the fact that over half the states and Pete you noted that that includes at least one Democratic governor in New Hampshire saying, 'hold on a second we don't know if these folks should come here.' Brad Blakeman, is there any appealing to this president, or is he so caught up emotionally and, I guess, politically in the notion of bringing in these Syrian refugees, most of the Muslim, none of them vetted, come hell or high water there's just no reasoning with the man? About 20 seconds sir.

Blakeman: No I don't think this president can be reasoned with unfortunately, and that's why he must be stopped in his tracks. And the best hope of doing that is not only with the governors but the House and the Senate.

Hayworth: All right, it rests with my old colleagues on Capitol Hill, one of those old colleagues with us Pete Hoekstra, the author of the book Architects of Disaster: The Destruction of Libya. Pete we thank you, and always Brad Blakeman for your insights and analysis there as you continue to teach young students at Georgetown. As you counseled President Bush we thank you in turn for counseling us tonight.

en