Rand Paul bill would close border to travelers from terror-risk countries

Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul on Monday introduced legislation that would close U.S. border to people from countries with a high risk of terrorism and impose a waiting period for background checks on visitors form other countries.

His proposals comes amid growing opposition in the wake of the Islamic State attack in Paris to the Obama administration plan to bring a least 10,000 Syrian refuges into the United States.

“The time has come to stop terrorists from walking in our front door,” said Mr. Paul, noting that the Boston Marathon bombers were refugees and others admitted as refugees have attempted terrorist acts.

“The terrorist attacks in Paris underscore this concern that I have been working to address for the past several years. My bill will press pause on new refugee entrants from high-risk countries until stringent new screening procedures are in place,” said Mr. Paul said.

Mr. Paul introduced similar legislation in 2013. This time he is offering it as he takes a back seat to his GOP rivals for the nomination who have taken a hawkish stance on U.S. military action to thwart Islamic State, known as ISIS or ISIL. 

His critics have called an isolationist because of his reluctance to U.S. military intervention abroad.

The legislation would suspend issuance of visas to nationals of countries with a high risk of terrorism until the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies and Congress votes to approve that:

* Aliens already admitted from high-risk countries have been fingerprinted and screened, pose no terrorist risk, and are being monitored for terrorist activity;

* Enhanced security measures are in place to screen future applicants and prevent terrorists from entering the country;

* DHS’ visa entry-exit system is 100 percent complete and a tracking system is in place to catch attempted overstays.

It also would impose a 30-day waiting period for all entries to the U.S. in order for background checks to be completed, unless the traveler has been approved through the Global Entry program.