Latest News

Mar 15, 2017

An emergency hearing was held today in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Maryland, to hear a request by HIAS and others to block the revised executive order enacting President Trump’s refugee and Muslim ban. That ban is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 16, unless one of the three courts currently hearing challenges to the ban intervenes to restrain or enjoin the order.

Mar 10, 2017

“We are suing to save lives,” said HIAS Managing Attorney Liz Sweet. “If implemented, this revised Executive Order will create the same devastating consequences for tens of thousands of refugees who our government promised safety and freedom in the United States.”

Mar 9, 2017

In an op-ed published on Scribe, the Forward’s curated contributor network, Rabbi Rachel Grant Meyer challenges the community “to commit to have at least one conversation with a family member, co-worker or friend on behalf of today’s refugees.”

Mar 7, 2017

The language of the ban may have changed slightly, but the result for refugees is still the same. Tens of thousands of refugees will remain in danger after they had already been approved to come to America.

Mar 3, 2017

On Wednesday night, HIAS filed an amicus or “friend of the court” brief in this case, in support of the plaintiffs. Our brief highlights some of the individuals who have been impacted by this order, to show the specific ways in which “the Executive Order is causing needless and unjustifiable irreparable harm to vulnerable refugees and their families.”

Feb 28, 2017

Legal challenges have suspended many parts of the Muslim ban, but our doors remain closed to some 60,000 vulnerable people seeking safety in this country. That hurts people like Eden, Sunam and Magan who have been separated from loved ones. The family reunions they had long hoped for now seem out of reach. We're challenging that in court.

Feb 27, 2017

Listen to HIAS Vice President for Community Engagement Rabbi Jennie Rosenn's interview on State of Belief radio with Rev. Welton Gaddy.

Feb 23, 2017

HIAS is expanding its footprint in Central America with a brand new office in San Jose, Costa Rica dedicated to providing legal support and services to vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers.

Feb 22, 2017

Over 200 Kindertransport survivors and descendants sent a letter to President Trump, urging him to keep America’s doors open to today’s refugees. “In the aftermath of World War II, the price for keeping America’s doors closed to refugees due to fear was made starkly clear. We are among the very few who were welcomed by a country and its citizens and therefore survived,” they write.

Feb 21, 2017

We cannot remain silent as Muslim refugees are turned away just for being Muslim, just as we could not stand idly by when the U.S. turned away Jewish refugees fleeing Europe during the 1930s and 40s. The Torah requires us to intervene. To stop these things from being done by our government and in our name.