2016 Presidential Hopefuls Speak Out Regarding Accepting Christian vs. Muslim Syrian Immigrants

2016 presidential hopefuls have spoken out regarding Syrian refugees traveling to the U.S. to seek asylum, with some of the nominees suggesting that the refugees should be able to "prove" they are Christian.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said in an interview this week that he would welcome immigrants coming into the U.S. who can be proven to be "verifiably Christian."

"You're a Christian – I mean, you can prove you're a Christian," Bush said in an interview with the New York Times.

"You can't prove it, then, you know, you err on the side of caution," Bush added.

While Bush has suggested that the U.S. vet Christian refugees, fellow 2016 presidential hopeful Donald Trump said he isn't sure if the U.S. would be able to prove someone is a Christian or not.

"I don't know if you can prove that they're Christian," Trump reportedly said during a press conference this week, according to CNN.

"You have to prove it. How are they proving it?" Trump asked. "I have a real concern that the people who are coming into this country are coming in, some for very bad purposes."

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has also spoken out against the acceptance of Syrian refugees, saying in a statement on Monday that "there is currently no ability to vet these people. By letting refugees into our country without vetting we are putting America at risk. If our president cannot see the risk, then we must rise to the challenge and protect our country."

U.S. President Barack Obama has responded to those who have suggested the U.S. screen the religions of those entering the country, saying in a statement this week: "When I hear political leaders suggesting that there would be a religious test for which a person who's fleeing from a war-torn country is admitted [...] that's shameful [...] That's not American."

"That's not who we are. We don't have religious tests to our compassion," the president added.