Friday’s deadly attacks in Paris have set off a storm of calls to close borders and reject refugees fleeing Syria. In the United States, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have called for a “pause” in the U.S. program accepting Syrian refugees, and governors of at least 27 U.S. states have said they will not accept the refugees. The White House held a conference phone call with 34 governors Tuesday. President Obama said attempts to block refugees are “offensive and contrary to American values.”

President Obama: “We’re open to hearing actual ideas, but that’s not really what’s been going on in this debate. When candidates say we wouldn’t admit three-year-old orphans, that’s political posturing. When individuals say that we should have a religious test and that only Christians—proven Christians—should be admitted, that’s offensive and contrary to American values.”

We’ll have more on Syrian refugees with Peter Bouckaert of Human Rights Watch and California Congressmember Barbara Lee after headlines.