Idaho Republican Party chairman says halt on refugee resettlement is sensible

There has been a focus on immigration from war-torn regions.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is calling on President Barack Obama to pause the U.S. refugee resettlement program. He wants the president to wait until the vetting process for all foreigners crossing U.S borders is fully reviewed.

At least 31 governors are now on record opposing the Obama administration’s resettlement plan that would bring 10,000 Syrians into the U.S. next year.

Stephen Yates, the chairman of the Idaho Republican Party says the recent attacks in Paris and Beirut play into this.

“General tragedy of human displacement in that area makes it prudent to pause in these relocation programs,” he said. “Hopefully, the focus is instead on doing what we can to help people in the region, make the region safer for the moderating voices to reside where they belong, to create a better future in the middle east for their own people. “

Yates also says the attacks in Paris make it clear the threat from ISIS is “very real,” and it’s an issue both Democrats and Republicans need to take seriously.

“I think it’s reoriented priorities in the campaign,” he said. “And, at least from my point of view, given that I am a partisan in all of this, I think it’s exposed a general lack of leadership on the part of President Obama and his first secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, in terms of making the world a safer place for American interest and American allies.”