Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan and Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab lived in the United States for years before they were discovered to have ties with terrorist groups. The arrest of these two individuals have yet sparked a debate on Syrian refugees coming in the United States.
In a report from Houston Chronicle, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott renewed his call for President Barack Obama to halt the U.S. resettlement of refugees from countries "substantially controlled by terrorists" until federal officials can "ensure refugees do not compromise the safety of Americans and Texans."
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also contended that the arrests in Houston and Sacramento "may have prevented a catastrophic terror-related event in making and saved countless lives" should refugees are prohibited from entering the country.
Austin Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, who also chairs the House Committee on Homeland Security, said that the arrests of the two suspects highlighted their concerns that "the current refugee program is susceptible to exploitation by terrorists."
Al Hardan, who was arrested in Houston, entered the United States as an 18 year-old refugee from Iraq in late 2009 and he has provided "material support and resources" to Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, commonly known as ISIS, since May 2014.
Al-Jayab, on the other hand, has lived in United States since October 2012 and has been attending an area college in California. According to CBS News, 23-year-old Al-Jayab used social media to communicate with people inside Syria in 2012, expressing a desire to return to Syria to "work." He was believed to have fought in Syria and has lied about his travels when he returned to the US in 2014.
In a post from the Gazette Observer, FBI Director James Comey testified before the House Homeland Security Committee and admitted that the government has no real way to conduct background checks on refugees.
US President Barack Obama said that he wanted to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in 2016, a decision which has clearly sparked debates among politicians.
