HIAS Responds to Blocking of the American SAFE Act in the Senate

WASHINGTON — Mark Hetfield, president and CEO of HIAS, the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees, released the following statement today in response to the Senate’s consideration of H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015. The bill did not receive enough support to proceed to the Senate floor.

“This bill was always about politics, not about safety," Hetfield said. "Refugees in general, and Syrian refugees in particular, are already the most vetted non-citizens who enter our country. This bill would effectively shut down the U.S. refugee resettlement program, not improve it. Such a move would be especially unconscionable at a time of unprecedented global displacement, and I’m relieved that the Senate has declined to pursue it further.”