New York, NY— The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) opposes the newly released “Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment (RAISE) Act.” This bill would cut legal immigration in half over the next 10 years, capping refugee resettlement at a maximum of 50,000 refugees annually and restricting family visas.

JCPA urges the White House and Congress to maintain current refugee levels, which are already insufficient, especially given the severity of the current international refugee crises, famine in East Africa, and other strife around the world. We believe that family reunification and generous refugee admissions must remain cornerstones of our immigration policy. As a nation built by immigrants and refugees, the U.S. should seek to maximize, not minimize, the number of people we welcome and protect.
 
“JCPA has advocated for more than 70 years on behalf of immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers who hope to build a better life for themselves and their children. The Jewish community has always been deeply committed to maintaining a generous immigration system,” stated David Bernstein, President and CEO of JCPA. “Closing our nation’s doors to immigrants and refugees contradicts our fundamental belief in ‘welcoming the stranger’. Newcomers are an essential to the fabric of our society, enriching our culture and boosting our economy.”
 
Throughout JCPA’s long history of protecting refugees and advocating for immigrants, we have fought for policies that balance the protection of civil and human rights with national security concerns. We once again call upon Congress to revive comprehensive immigration reform consistent with the best of our national values: equality, fairness, due process under the law, and respect for human dignity.