HIAS Receives Special Consultative Status at UN

Posted on Tue, Jul 22, 2008 at 9:16 am

(New York, NY)– HIAS, the international migration agency of the American Jewish community, is gratified by the decision made late yesterday to recommend it for Special Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). HIAS first applied in 2007 and its application had been considered and reviewed over the course of two sessions by the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs); yesterday’s action marks the successful completion of the review and acceptance process so that HIAS can participate

Statement by Gideon Aronoff, President & CEO, HIAS, at Postville Immigration Raid Press Conference

Posted on Wed, Jul 02, 2008 at 9:18 am

For HIAS and the Jewish community, working to assist refugees and other immigrants, and to promote welcoming policies at the federal, state and local levels, is an important community priority. This stems from the Jewish community’s essential and enduring identification with immigrants -- both current Jewish immigrants and immigrants of other backgrounds. The reasons for this identification are many, but include:

• The centrality of the biblical commandment to welcome, protect, and love the stranger;
• The lessons of

Postville a Clarion Call for Jews and Americans

Posted on Sun, May 18, 2008 at 9:20 am

by Gideon Aronoff

New York (JTA)-The recent raid in Postville, Iowa, on this country's largest kosher slaughterhouse, where at least 390 people were arrested on immigration charges, is troubling on many levels.

As Jews, a collective shudder runs through the community whenever a business enterprise so closely connected with the community is raided by government agents. Because of the terrifying associations of other raids against Jews by uniformed personnel in Europe and elsewhere, we must take it seriously when the unprotected among

The Irony Of U.S. Immigration Laws

Posted on Wed, Apr 16, 2008 at 9:23 am

by Gideon Aronoff
Special To The Jewish Week

On Tuesday, in Warsaw, the nations of the world joined Poland in commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, a signal event in the modern history of the Jewish people. Unwilling to buckle to their oppressors, the fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto are an enduring symbol of the force of life over the power of pure evil.

At that event, Michael Chertoff, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), represented President

Op-Ed: Passover and Our Inner Immigrant

Posted on Tue, Apr 01, 2008 at 9:27 am

by Gideon Aronoff

New York (JTA)- Immigration restrictionists frequently charge that American Jewish attitudes about immigration are mired in a sepia-toned time warp where bubbes in babushkas and wide-eyed zaydes are still hobbling off boats from the old country.

Sentimentalities aside, we must not lose sight of the fact that Jews are a religious and ethical people and the bearers of an ancient tradition whose messages take on even greater immediacy as we prepare to celebrate Passover.

We are taught to internalize the

HIAS Calls on Congress to Reject Flawed Proposals

Posted on Mon, Mar 24, 2008 at 9:29 am

by Gideon Aronoff, President & CEO

As the nation’s leading migration arm of the Jewish community, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) continues to call for effective, fair, and humane immigration laws that balance the need to provide immigrants seeking freedom the opportunity to build a better life with the need to protect our homeland and national security interests. Regrettably, the Save America through Verification and Enforcement Act (SAVE Act, H.R. 4088) introduced by Representatives Heath Shuler (D-NC), Tom Tancredo (R-CO),

HIAS Opposes Two Immigration Acts Introduced Into the House

Posted on Fri, Mar 21, 2008 at 9:33 am

(New York, NY)– HIAS, the international immigration agency of the American Jewish community, opposes two measures recently introduced into the House of Representatives: the Save America through Verification and Enforcement Act (SAVE Act, H.R. 4088) and the New Employee Verification Act (H.R. 5515). It further strongly opposes the recent strategy proposed by supporters of the SAVE Act to bypass the committee process and move the bill directly to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

According to HIAS

HIAS Archivist Receives National Humanities Medal: Colonel Seymour Pomrenze Honored

Posted on Wed, Nov 21, 2007 at 9:34 am

Seymour Pomrenze (3rd from right) is seen here with fellow Monuments Men, accepting the 2007 National Humanities Medal from President Bush.

(Washington, D.C.)– President George W. Bush awarded a 2007 National Humanities Medal to Colonel Seymour Pomrenze, HIAS’ Archivist and Historian, on November 15 during a ceremony held in the White House East Room. Pomrenze was one of nine Americans honored for their “exemplary contributions to the humanities” and for their efforts in preservation.

The National Humanities Medal, first awarded in 1989,

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Issues New Asylum Policy; More Likely that Victims of Persecution will Remain in Jail

Posted on Wed, Nov 14, 2007 at 9:42 am

HIAS calls on DHS to reverse course

Washington - HIAS – the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society – calls on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to rescind its new policy that makes it more difficult for non-criminal asylum seekers to be released from the jails and jail-like facilities used by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The new policy will not only increase detention costs to taxpayers, but will also further traumatize those who fled persecution in their homelands to seek

HIAS: Another Opportunity Missed as Senate Fails to Pass DREAM Act

Posted on Thu, Oct 25, 2007 at 9:46 am

by Gideon Aronoff, President and CEO

HIAS – the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society – is extremely disappointed in the Senate’s failure yesterday to muster the votes needed to continue working out their differences on the DREAM Act, a bipartisan bill that would have give innocent children of undocumented immigrants the opportunity to further their education, get on a path to citizenship, and secure their futures in this country once and for all. In a 52-44 vote, the Senate was just 8