Debate on SAFE Act Shut Down

For several months now, there's an ongoing debate about refugees entering our country.

U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), are not happy with the senate voting against the "SAFE Act."

The American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act would enforce stricter background checks on Iraqi and Syrian refugees. It would also strengthen vetting standards.

This would all be mandatory through our nation's top security officials like the FBI when welcoming any refugees in our country.

We caught up with U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito on why she's been pushing this bill...

"Unfortunately the majority of the democrats decided they didn't want to discuss this issue so we unfortunately aren't going to have a full debate on this. I think it doesn't make sense to me because this is about national security, homeland security. Just what we want is to use social media and other methods to make sure we're doing the background checking that we need to do on the refugees that are coming into this country," said Senator Capito.

The debate on the bill was voted down by U.S. Senators, 55 to 43, falling just short of its 60 votes needed to move on. President Obama has said previously he would veto the bill if it passes the senate.

Many fear the refugees entering our country could pose domestic security threats. This came to the forefront following the attacks in Paris in November 2015, shortly before the bill was introduced by republicans.

But still, others say our current security measures are just fine.