Congressmembers Nick Langworthy and Elise Stefanik have introduced the Safeguarding Americans from Extreme Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act. This legislation seeks to address perceived loopholes in immigration policies under the Biden administration, aiming to enhance vetting protocols for migrants entering the United States.
Congressman Langworthy expressed concern over what he described as a “flood of murderers, terrorists, and dangerous individuals” entering New York State due to current border policies. He emphasized the need for decisive action to restore order. “A nation without secure borders is a nation in decline,” Langworthy stated.
The proposed SAFER at the Border Act is said to respond to warnings from Border Czar Tom Homan about illegal entries from high-risk countries like Iran. According to Langworthy, the bill is designed to protect American families by preventing threats from reaching U.S. soil.
Chairwoman Stefanik criticized New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s support for what she called “catastrophic open border policies.” She accused Hochul of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over New Yorkers and co-leads this legislative effort with Langworthy. The act aims to close loopholes allegedly exploited by current state and federal policies.
Key provisions of the SAFER at the Border Act include prohibiting parole for high-risk aliens and closing refugee parole loopholes. It also targets national security threats by reinforcing existing inadmissibility standards.
The legislation has several original cosponsors, including Reps. Michael Cloud, Chuck Edwards, Gabe Evans, Chuck Fleischmann, Michael Guest, Nicole Malliotakis, Andy Ogles, Michael Rulli, Mike Simpson, Pete Stauber, Scott DesJarlais, and Claudia Tenney.
Support for the bill comes from organizations such as the Immigration Accountability Project (IAP), Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and America First Policy Institute (AFPI). Grant Newman of IAP highlighted concerns about past releases of suspected terrorists into U.S. communities during border crises under humanitarian parole guidelines.
Joe Chatham of FAIR pointed out that limiting parole for designated terrorists or special interest aliens is a necessary measure to protect national security. Chad Wolf of AFPI emphasized that securing borders is essential for national security and praised the act’s potential impact on reducing vulnerabilities.
