Most Americans Oppose Admitting Syrian Refugees, Poll Finds

A majority of Americans support the use of force against ISIS and oppose admitting Syrian refugees in to the United States in the aftermath of ISIS’s Paris attacks, according to a new poll released Friday.

Some 54% of total respondents said they oppose taking in refugees,according to a new poll from the Washington Post and ABC News, and 52% say they’re not confident in the American screening process to weed out possible terrorists.

But if refugees are admitted, the poll found, an overwhelming 78% say all refugees should be considered equally– only 18% support a preference for Christian refugees. Presidential candidates Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz have both argued for giving Christian refugees a special preference.

The poll found that 73% of surveyed Americans support U.S. participation in a military operation against ISIS, and 60% support the use of ground forces. 59% of Americans said the U.S. is at war with radical Islam, and 81% say they anticipate a serious terror attack on U.S. soil– one of few moments since 9/11 when anxiety about another attack has reached this level.

The results come a day after the House passed a bill to drastically tighten security measures for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, against the objections of President Obama.

[Washington Post/ABC]