A Rasmussen poll conducted last week reveals that most Americans favor “a temporary ban on refugees from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen until the federal government approves its ability to screen out potential terrorists.” The survey found that only 33 percent of likely voters oppose the pause, while 57 percent support it. Similarly, 56 percent also favor “a temporary block on visas prohibiting residents of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entering the United States until the government approves its ability to screen for likely terrorists.”
These findings reinforce a similar poll conducted by Rasmussen last year, when 59% of voters agreed with Trump’s proposed immigration pause for immigrants from “the most dangerous and volatile regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism.” Furthermore, a recent Quinnipiac survey also shows more people approve than disapprove of halting immigration from “terror-prone” countries.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Americans overwhelmingly approve of President Trump’s national security measures. In 2009, FBI operatives discovered two Iraqi refugees residing in Bowling Green, Kentucky, who had ties to al Qaeda. The suspected terrorists later admitted in court that they attacked U.S. soldiers in Iraq while conducting terroristic activities for the organization. The Obama administration used this incident as justification to suspend refugee applications from Iraq for six months while they reviewed the vetting process. The American people did not riot in the streets as a result, and the mainstream media essentially ignored the move.
The ongoing protests and negative media coverage represent the opinion of a minority of Americans. Most people are concerned about their safety and that of their families, friends and neighbors. They simply want to be assured that whenever a new immigrant or refugee is welcomed into United States, they are willing to obey American laws and assimilate into American society. Should that really be considered such a reprehensible request?