Letter to the U.S. Senate regarding Syrian Refugees

SUMMARY

The Immigration and Nationality Committee wrote to Senator Mitch McConnell and Senator Harry Reid to express opposition to the recent congressional proposal to delay U.S. resettlement of refugees from Iraq and Syria. If passed, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act (H.R. 4038) would deny life saving humanitarian relief to families fleeing from violence. The letter points out that denying protection to refugees based on race and religion violates the American value of equal protection and bears resemblance to deeply discriminatory early immigration laws. The Committee urges Congress to abandon H.R. 4038 and other similar proposals, and recommends President Obama veto any such bill. Instead, the Committee proposes that Congress increase refugee admission numbers in order to lead, by example, a global effort to ensure safety for Syrian and Iraqi refugees.