Talking Points: How Should The U.S. Respond To The Refugee Crisis?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- As the Syrian refugee crisis grows, there are mounting questions about what nations should be doing in response, and that includes a debate on whether the United States should be doing more.

The United States estimates more than 4 million people have fled Syria since the civil war began four years ago.

It is only in the past two weeks thought that the humanitarian crisis has captured the world's attention.

As European countries struggle with the waves of migrants, there is also debate on whether the U.S. is doing enough.

Back in May, Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were among a group of Democratic senators who wrote President Barack Obama asking that the U.S. admit at least 60,000 Syrian refugees over the next two years.

The proposal drew immediate criticism from some conservative groups who labeled the senators "the Jihadi caucus."

Franken was a guest at our fair booth on WCCO Sunday Morning.

"So far, the U.S. has admitted less than 1,000 refugees," the senator said.

He added that his is the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

"We have to do the right thing," he said. "We are the country that does the right thing, and we are stronger for it. We need to be a leader in the world."

Watch the full interview with Sen. Al Franken in the video above.

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