Thread: Grassley wants Trump admin to release 'covert' refugee deal

Grassley wants Trump admin to release 'covert' refugee deal

By Jordain Carney - 02/02/17 08:28 PM EST

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) is pushing the State Department to hand over the classified refugee deal that reportedly sparked ire from President Trump during a recent call with the Australian prime minster.

Grassley, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to newly minted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson asking that he declassify an Obama-era deal for the United States to accept refugees transferred from Australia.

"As I said before, the American people have a right to be fully aware of the actions of their government regarding foreign nationals who may be admitted to the United States," he wrote to Tillerson.

Grassley added that if the Trump official won't declassify the report that he should "please include your justification for such a decision in your response."

The letter comes after The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that Trump blasted the Obama-era plan during a call on Saturday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

“This is the worst deal ever,” Trump reportedly told Turnbull, who tried to confirm that the U.S. would honor the previous administration's pledge to take 1,250 from an Australian detention center.

Grassley noted that he previously asked the Obama administration to declassify the agreement after his staff was briefed on the deal and "it became apparent that there was no reason for the agreement to be classified."

"American taxpayers not only foot the bill for the majority of the refugee resettlement in the United States, but they bear any consequences regarding the security implications of those admitted to our country," Grassley added in the letter.

He noted that his staff was told by Obama officials that the refugees included in the U.S.-Australia deal originally came from a mixture of countries including Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

Grassley's letter comes as two top Republicans said Thursday that they reached out to Joe Hockey, the Australian ambassador to the U.S., to reassure the Australian government of their commitment to the two countries' alliance.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-actio...t-refugee-deal

Well! And the plot thickens!

I just love Senator Grassley! THANK YOU IOWA FOR SENATOR GRASSLEY!

Now I wonder who the two top Republicans are who called the Australian ambassador to "reassure them of our alliance"??

Lets see, oh yes of course, McCain called the Ambassador and who else? Bob Corker?? Honestly? Oh, Lindsey Graham tweeted.

Top GOP senators play cleanup after Trump's contentious call with Australia

Pamela Engel

11h

Top Republican senators have stressed the importance of the US-Australia alliance in the wake of President Donald Trump's contentious phone call with the Australian prime minister.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona released a statement Thursday morning calling Australia "one of America's oldest friends and staunchest allies" and Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, tweeted in support of Australia later in the day.

During Trump's call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Trump called a refugee agreement with the nation the "worst deal ever" and accused Turnbull of trying to send America the "next Boston bombers" under a deal to send refugees from Australia to the US.

McCain said he called Australia's ambassador to the US, Joe Hockey, on Thursday morning to reassure him of US support.

"Australia is one of America's oldest friends and staunchest allies," the senator and 2008 Republican presidential nominee said in a statement. "We are united by ties of family and friendship, mutual interests and common values, and shared sacrifice in wartime."

The statement continued: "In that spirit, I called Australia's ambassador to the United States this morning to express my unwavering support for the US-Australia alliance. I asked Ambassador Hockey to convey to the people of Australia that their American brothers and sisters value our historic alliance, honor the sacrifice of the Australians who have served and are serving by our side, and remain committed to the safer, freer, and better world that Australia does far more than its fair share to protect and promote."

McCain also noted the long history Australia had of aligning with the US in conflicts including two world wars and conflicts in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Corker also said he called Hockey.

"Just got off the phone with Ambassador @JoeHockey," he tweeted. "We discussed the important and long-lasting alliance between our two countries."

Sen. Lindsey Graham, another Republican, also commented on Trump's phone call with the Australian prime minister, saying he wished Trump "would sleep more and tweet less."

Trump tweeted Wednesday night: "Do you believe it? The Obama Administration agreed to take thousands of illegal immigrants from Australia. Why? I will study this dumb deal!"

Trump addressed his contentious phone calls during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning.

"When you hear about the tough phone calls I'm having, don't worry about it," Trump said. "Just don't worry about it. They're tough. We have to be tough. It's time we're gonna be a little tough, folks. We're taken advantage of by every nation in the world virtually. It's not gonna happen anymore."

http://www.businessinsider.com/mccai...mp-call-2017-2

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Well, don't they all 3 look silly now. Reassuring alliances with Aussies trying to dump the worst of the worst in the United States??!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!

When are they going to learn that if Trump is concerned and upset, then they should be also. He's not the incompetent one, you all are. Thank you Senator Grassley for providing the missing information about WHERE the "refugees" are from and for looking into why in the hell Barack Obama agreed to let them come here when Australia won't let them on their soil and has them penned up on an island where they can't escape?

It is good that President Trump passed over Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker for a position in his cabinet. Senator Corker and Republican Governor Bill Haslam are fine with more Syraian refugees being sent to Tennessee. The governor says he trusts they are well vetted. New refugees were to be sent to the governor's hometown of Knoxville, TN. according to news reports. They want to hit the taxpayers with even more of a burden, well over the 165 million dollars a year they spend now to care and provide for refugees.

Such a racket disguised with words of compassion and shared sacrifice. Keeping people with their friends and family in their own areas or nearby and providing necessary assistance we determine to give is the better answer.

I agree 100% GeorgiaPeach!!