Replies

A refugee means that the applicant can not return to their country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

This would apply to Christian Syrians, not Islamic Syrians. They may be leaving due to unrest but that does not make them a refugee.

Refugee also includes, in special circumstances the President after appropriate consultation may specify, any person who is within the country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, within the country in which such person is habitually residing, and who is persecuted or who has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

The term "appropriate consultation" means, with respect to the admission of refugees and allocation of refugee admissions, discussions in person by designated Cabinet-level representatives of the President with members of the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and of the House of Representatives to review the refugee situation or emergency refugee situation, to project the extent of possible participation of the United States therein, to discuss the reasons for believing that the proposed admission of refugees is justified by humanitarian concerns or grave humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest, and to provide such members with the following information:

A description of the nature of the refugee situation.
A description of the number and allocation of the refugees to be admitted and an analysis of conditions within the countries from which they came.
A description of the proposed plans for their movement and resettlement and the estimated cost of their movement and resettlement.
An analysis of the anticipated social, economic, and demographic impact of their admission to the United States.
A description of the extent to which other countries will admit and assist in the resettlement of such refugees.
An analysis of the impact of the participation of the United States in the resettlement of such refugees on the foreign policy interests of the United States.
(7) Such additional information as may be appropriate or requested by such members.

To the extent possible, information described in this subsection shall be provided at least two weeks in advance of discussions in person by designated representatives of the President with such members.

Has "appropriate consultation" occurred? Have discussions in person by designated Cabinet-level representatives of the President with members of the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and of the House of Representatives occurred?

8 USC § 1101(a)(42), 8 USC § 1157(e), 8 USC § 1185(b)(1)(B)(i)