How the refugee vetting process actually works

With several high-profile terrorist attacks around the world, including Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., many have raised serious concerns about how thoroughly individuals entering the U.S. are screened.

In particular, a lot of focus has been paid to the refugee process. Americans are understandably worried that terrorists might use any and all opportunities to enter the U.S.

So what does the refugee vetting process look like?

First, most applicants apply for refuge through the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR. The office then forwards some applications to the U.S. State Department, which prepares these applications for adjudication by the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Once an applicant is referred to the State Department, biometric and biographic checks are done against various U.S. security databases at multiple points throughout the process.

Multiple agencies' systems and databases are incorporated in this process, including:

•  The State Department's Consular Lookout and Support System and Consular Consolidated Database.

•  The National Counterterrorism Center/FBI's Terrorist Screening Center's Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment and Terrorist Screening Database.

•  The Federal Bureau of Investigation's extracts of the National Crime Information Center's Wanted Persons File, Immigration Violator File, Foreign Fugitive File, Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization File (and the Interstate Identification Index). Also, the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System/Next Generation Identification.

•  Interpol's Drug Enforcement Administration.

•  The U.S. Department of Defense's Automated Biometric Identification System.

In addition, the refugee process requires a security advisory opinion to be completed by the FBI and the intelligence community on many refugee applicants who are considered higher risk. Similarly, interagency checks are constantly being done in connection with a wide range of U.S. agencies.

For example, Syrian refugee officers must undergo a one-week training course on Syria-specific issues, including classified information. Additional scrutiny is already being applied to Syrians through the process of enhanced review for Syrian applicants, which puts additional security and intelligence resources at the disposal of adjudicators.

Only at this point can an application be approved. For those whose applications are approved, health screenings and orientations begin. The State Department and the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services work with voluntary resettlement agencies to arrange for resettlement services and assistance.

After an average of 12 to 18 months, this process ends with entry into the U.S. According to the Department of Homeland Security, of the approximately 23,000 Syrian referrals made by the U.N. High Commissioner on Refugees to the U.S., only about 2,000 have been accepted.

The U.S. refugee system can be, should be and is being picky about who we allow to enter as a refugee.

The U.S. has made constant improvements to the program, learning from mistakes, such as when in 2009 two Iraqi terrorists were caught in the U.S. after slipping through the vetting process. It is worth noting that these are the only two individuals who have slipped through the screening process.

That's why the best recommendation for Congress right now is to demand detailed information from the administration on how risks are being mitigated.

The administration should remain selective in the refugees it accepts, focusing on those applicants about whom the U.S. has an acceptable amount of intelligence.

While this process is even more rigorous than most other visa programs, after the attack in San Bernardino, the American people deserve ­— and Congress should request — details about how all forms of vetting can be and should be constantly improved. The government owes it to its citizens to use all lawful tools at its disposal to prevent terrorist travel.

Americans deserve a responsible program so they can continue to support refugees while also addressing real security concerns.