Syria refugee fight emerges as government shutdown threat

The GOP has clear momentum on this issue, leading some conservatives to call for steps that go further than the House-approved bill.

They want language in the omnibus that blocks any funds from being used to relocate refugees from the region, at least until stricter screening conditions are met.

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Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) has 57 signatures on a letter urging Ryan and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-Ala.) to bar funds for Syrian refugee relocation, calling it a “Trojan Horse threat to American national security.”

Yet there are risks for Republicans, if the White House and Democrats can use the issue to accuse the GOP of forcing a shutdown.

Ryan sought to steer the issue away from the spending bill by moving a stand-alone bill last week. It’s a sign the new Speaker sees a potential political threat to his own party.

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