Donald Trump has said he would send home all Syrian refugees the US accepts, if he becomes president.
The billionaire, who is the current frontrunner in the Republican race for the White House, told a New Hampshire rally: "If I win, they're going back."
It marks a reversal in policy - earlier this month he told Fox News the US should take in more refugees.
A migrant crisis has gripped parts of Europe and the US has pledged to take 10,000 refugees from Syria next year.
Half a million people have crossed the Mediterranean into Europe in 2015, with the largest number from Syria, where 250,000 people have been killed in a civil war.
On Wednesday night, Mr Trump told an audience at Keene High School: "I hear we want to take in 200,000 Syrians. And they could be - listen, they could be Isis [Islamic State]."
Describing them as a "200,000-man army", he later added: "I'm putting the people on notice that are coming here from Syria as part of this mass migration, that if I win, if I win, they're going back."
Trump leads the polls in New Hampshire, where he spoke at a school
Mr Trump has made immigration a central plank of his election campaign, pledging to build a wall on the southern border.
He was harshly criticised after saying undocumented Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists".
His latest comments about sending Syrians home are more in line with his hardline immigration policy, although at odds with what he said earlier this month.
Asked whether he thought some of the migrants travelling into Europe should be allowed in the US, the business mogul said: "I hate the concept of it, but on a humanitarian basis, with what's happening, you have to."
He blamed President Barack Obama for the crisis and added: "It's living in hell in Syria. They are living in hell."
Many migrants have walked long distances to reach Austria and Germany
The US has allowed 1,500 Syrians to re-settle since the start of the conflict four years ago.
A number of Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, have urged the US to increase the number of Syrians from 10,000 to 65,000.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged to take more refugees worldwide, raising the yearly cap from 70,000 to 85,000 next year and to 100,000 in 2017.
Image copyright Reuters
Latest Stories
-
Must teachers always strike before concerns are addressed? – Peter Anti quizzes
13 mins -
John Kumah’s wife inconsolable at his one week observance [Video]
14 mins -
Africa’s Top Women in Banking, Finance, and Investment to be celebrated at Angaza Forum in Nairobi
22 mins -
The love I’ve received is breathtaking – Kuami Eugene shares health update
37 mins -
Government targets $100m private capital to complete Saglemi Housing Project
54 mins -
Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill will bring economic disaster to Ghana if signed into law – Prof. Diamond
1 hour -
Akufo-Addo, Bagbin impasse over Anti- LGBTQI+ Bill could harm economy – Franklin Cudjoe
1 hour -
Adamus accused of defying court-directed Interim Management Committee
1 hour -
NPP running mate saga: Frontrunners will be disappointed – John Boadu
2 hours -
Calls for ECG-PURC truce intensify as ‘dumsor’ worsens
2 hours -
Unstable exchange rate affects claims payment – Ghana Insurers Association
2 hours -
Bank of Africa Ghana donates to Chief Imam, hosts Moroccan community to mark Ramadan activities
2 hours -
We’re winning 2024 polls hands down – PNC declares
2 hours -
Zen Petroleum opens 50th fuel retail station
2 hours -
Dumsor contributed to NPP’s 2016 victory – Prof Agyeman-Duah
2 hours