Politics

Priebus Says US Should Bar People From Areas That Harbor Terrorists

He said a temporary ban is necessary until a better vetting system is in place.

Priebus Says US Should Bar People From Areas That Harbor Terrorists
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Reince Priebus wants to prevent terrorists from entering the United States.

"There are some people that are radicalized, and there are some people that have to be prevented from coming into this country," Priebus said.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," the incoming White House chief of staff said in order to keep terrorists out, the U.S. must bar people from areas that harbor and train terrorists — at least until a better vetting system is put into place.

Priebus wasn't clear on if that proposal includes all people or just refugees or migrants seeking to live in the U.S.

SEE MORE: Here's What Trump Is Saying About Immigration Post-Election

Right now, anyone looking to visit the U.S. is required to obtain a Visitor VISA, unless they're from a country that's part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.

Refugees are required to go through a more rigorous vetting process.

But terror groups operate in a ton of areas across the globe. The U.S. State Department classifies over 60 organizations as foreign terror groups. And those groups operate in various countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

ISIS, for example, has ties to several countries in the Middle East and Africa. A handful of ISIS supporters have even been arrested in the U.S.

Priebus' statements echo a lot of the rhetoric coming from the Trump team during the 2016 campaign cycle. Donald Trump himself has called for a ban on Muslims entering the country. And retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn — Trump's recent pick for national security adviser — has said Islam is "like cancer."

When asked about rhetoric involving an alleged "Muslim registry," Priebus said the administration wouldn't have a registry based on religion but wasn't "going to rule out anything."