Christie: No refugees in US until they can be vetted

by Lisa Hagen - 12/15/15 10:55 PM ET

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday said he wouldn’t back down from his call to halt Syrian refugees from entering the U.S., including women and orphans, citing the recent mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., as evidence.

{mosads}”I don’t back away from that position for a minute,” Christie said during CNN’s Republican presidential debate.

“We now know from watching the San Bernardino attack that women can commit heinous, heinous acts against humanity just the same as men can do it, he added.

Tashfeen Malik, identified as one of the shooters, had pledged her support to Islamic jihad on social media.

Christie has previously called for pausing refugees from coming to America, even “orphans under the age 5.”

On Tuesday, he said that once FBI Director James Comey says the United States can vet refugees thoroughly, “then we’ll consider it and not a moment before.”

Tags Chris Christie Syrian refugees