Maloney Votes for GOP-Backed Legislation on Syrian Refugees
As the controversy over whether Syrian refugees should be allowed to come to the United States has stretched from the east to west coast, local Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney broke from Democrats last week and voted for Republican-sponsored legislation that could slow refugees entering the country.
In a resounding 289-137 vote of approval in the House of Representatives for the SAFE Act, which essentially could suspend the program allowing Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the US until key national security agencies certify they don’t pose a risk, another layer was added to the debate between national security and humanitarian obligations following the Paris terrorist attacks.
According to the SAFE Act, refugees from Iraq and Syria, or anyone who had been there at any point since March 1, 2011 must be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security, FBI director, and director of national intelligence as “not a threat to the security of the United States” after a more extensive screening process already in place before they can settle in the country.
Maloney was one of 47 Democrats to vote with Republicans on the legislation. As a result, he’s faced immense backlash from advocates that want refugees welcomed in the country as planned and from his own party.
Maloney, in an oddly worded statement sent out by his office that almost gave the appearance he was against the legislation he in fact voted for, encouraged the Obama administration to agree to “immediately certify refugees” if they pass current screenings instead of “slowing the program or pausing it.”
“It’s understandable that people are scared, and Americans have a right to know that the process we use to screen refugees will keep us safe,” Maloney stated. “I have faith in our system, and I don’t believe these refugees — the overwhelming majority of whom are women, elderly, and children — threaten our communities or national security.”
In a conference call on a separate subject prior to his vote, Maloney expressed his stance on whether to allow Syrian refugees into the nation after questioned by The Putnam Examiner.
Maloney said he had a “real problem” with the Obama administration refusing to certify refugees and that Americans have the right to expect that their government will keep them safe.
“The government should certify it or they shouldn’t be doing it so I’m inclined to support the bill,” Maloney said. “But what really ought to happen is we should be working in a bipartisan fashion on this. This is the last thing we should be having a political fight about.”
He encouraged the president and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to come to a compromise.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to certify their own process,” Maloney said. “ We actually have a pretty good process.”
Maloney has faced backlash on social media sites like Twitter with some users calling him a coward and even a bigot for his support of the bill. On his Facebook page, an overwhelming amount of people also criticized Maloney for his vote, though a small handful thanked him for protecting Americans.
The Associated Press reported earlier Thursday that Maloney clashed with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson inside a private meeting meant to persuade Democrats to oppose the bill, according to Democratic aides. Those aides said, according to the AP report that Maloney said that Democrats could lose seats over the vote.
Maloney enters a reelection year in 2016 after he narrowly beat former congresswoman and Republican Nan Hayworth in 2014. Currently, two Republicans have filed to fun for the 18th congressional seat–Sakima Brown and Dan Castricone. Both ran for New York State Assembly in 2014 and lost by wide margins.
The legislation still needs to pass through the United States Senate and President Obama has promised in statements to veto the bill if it came to his desk.
