Rep. Chu Votes Against Anti-Refugee Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives voted 289-137 for H.R. 4038, the so-called “American SAFE Act of 2015.” This bill adds new certification requirements and requires that the FBI Director, the Homeland Security Secretary, and the National Intelligence Director concur on each refugee from Iraq and Syria. Organizations like the ACLU, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Oxfam, the AFL-CIO, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and dozens of religious groups argue that these new requirements are unnecessary and would effectively stop the flow of any and all refugees from Iraq and Syria. Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) voted against the bill and released the following statement:

“The terrorist attacks in Paris were horrifying. Our thoughts are with the victims and all of France as we are reminded of our own need to ensure the safety of our cities and people. But this bill is not the solution. We must stop using fear tactics as a means to enact bad policy.

“The reality is that we already have in place one of the strictest refugee policies in the world. It takes up to two years of multiple in-person interviews, background checks, and interagency cooperation before a refugee is allowed into the U.S. This process, thanks to the hard work of our intelligence and security communities, is and has been successful at weeding out threats. And that is why the vast majority of refugees admitted are widows, orphans, and victims of torture.

“It would be wrong from a moral and a security standpoint to abandon them in refugee camps where they are subject to violence or radicalization. I agree that we need a serious plan to confront the threat of ISIS, but that should not begin with attacks on frightened and vulnerable women and children. Closing our borders to refugees is a mistake and a violation of our country’s values.”

Under the current refugee application system, of the 23,092 applications since 2011, only 2,034 have been approved.