In the wake of last week’s attacks in Paris, The House passed H.R. 4038, the “American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015,” to stem the flow of refugees from Syria and Iraq in a vote of 289 to 137. President Obama has agreed to admit 10,000 refugees and may potentially veto the bill. With two-thirds of those voting in support of the bill, there are enough votes to override a veto. House Republicans strongly supported the bill, as well as 47 Democrats.
In Brooklyn, many Democratic elected officials opposed this bill. Representative Hakeem Jeffries voted no. In an interview with New York 1, Jeffries said, “There are significant concerns that the American people rightfully have as it relates to their safety and security and we’ve got to take those concerns seriously. However, it is important to note that there are already 2,000 Syrian refugees who have been successfully relocated here in the United States of America without incident.”
Since October 2013, around 2,200 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the United States. According to United Nations statistics, currently 50.3 percent of the refugees are women and 51.2 percent are children under 17 years of age. Men between the ages of 18 and 59 make up less than 11 percent of refugees.
Representative Nydia M. Velázquez opposed the bill, believing that “we have a humanitarian obligation” to aid refugees. “We can keep our nation safe, while continuing to accept refugees who are fleeing the crisis in Syria. Turning our back on families with children desperately seeking our assistance would be a betrayal of our values and hand ISIS an enormous victory,” said Velázquez.
Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke also opposed the bill, saying, “In this time of crisis, we have a responsibility to work with the community of nations to protect the refugees who are now threatened because of their race, their religion, or their political convictions.” Clarke said that she was “deeply appalled” that some members of Congress are preventing the admittance of Syrian refugees on what she believes is a false assumption that certain groups are inherently dangerous.
“This assumption violates a basic principle of our nation: that the rights of each individual are entitled to respect. We have the opportunity to act on that principle by welcoming families and children who want to escape the fear of persecution based on their identity or their beliefs,” said Clarke.
Congressman Jerrold Nadler, senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, had strong words for those in favor of the bill. “The United States has always been, and should always be, a place of refuge. Remember, the Syrian refugees are running away from ISIS. They are running away from war and terror. They are its victims. To stop thousands of desperate people who are fleeing unspeakable violence is unconscionable. We might as well take down the Statue of Liberty.”
Republican Congressman Dan Donovan voted in favor of this bill until security protocols are reviewed. “This vote is about keeping our city and country safe from radical Islamic terror, a threat New Yorkers know all too well. ISIS proved itself capable of exporting violence to the West, then released a video directly threatening New York City. Halting our refugee program to review the efficacy of our security protocols should be a no-brainer. That the President threatened to veto this common-sense, responsible legislation shows he is putting politics ahead of national security.”
