Congressmembers Langworthy and Stefanik Introduce SAFER at the Border Act to Block Dangerous Migrants Exploiting Biden-era Loopholes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressmembers Nick Langworthy (NY-23) and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) introduced the Safeguarding Americans from Extreme Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act, legislation aimed at closing dangerous loopholes left wide open by the Biden administration and restoring strict vetting protocols to ensure extremists and criminals are kept out of the United States.

“My constituents are fed up with the flood of murderers, terrorists, and dangerous individuals that poured into our communities across New York State—all because of the reckless, failed open-border policies of the Biden administration,” said Congressman Langworthy. “A nation without secure borders is a nation in decline, and it’s time we take bold, decisive action to reverse the chaos of the last four years.”

He continued, “The SAFER at the Border Act answers the urgent call from Border Czar Tom Homan, who has sounded the alarm on the unprecedented number of illegal aliens who entered our country under the Biden administration from high-risk countries like Iran. This legislation is about protecting American families from threats that never should have made it onto our soil in the first place.”

“The Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul embraced and fully supported Joe Biden’s catastrophic open border policies. She has put all New Yorkers at risk by prioritizing illegals first and New Yorkers LAST with her sanctuary state policies,” Chairwoman Stefanik said. “Today, I am announcing I am co-leading the SAFER at the Border Act with Congressman Nick Langworthy to keep dangerous criminal illegals from terrorizing New York and our nation’s streets. The legislation closes loopholes that were exploited by Kathy Hochul’s failed policies and Joe Biden’s reckless abuse of immigration parole. Terrorists, transnational criminals, and dangerous foreign nationals invaded our sovereign nation under the corrupt and failed leadership of Kathy Hochul. We must put law-abiding New Yorkers first and secure our borders.”

Specifically, the SAFER at The Border Act would:

• Prohibit parole for high-risk aliens: The bill bars the Secretary of Homeland Security from granting immigration parole to individuals who pose national security or public safety risks—such as known terrorists, members of transnational criminal organizations, or those flagged in federal threat databases.
• Closes loopholes for refugee parole: It prohibits parole of refugees into the United States outside of the established refugee admission process, preventing the administration from using broad parole authority to bypass standard vetting and security protocols.
• Targets national security threats in immigration law: The bill ensures that individuals with ties to terrorism, espionage, or foreign criminal networks are flagged and blocked from entering the U.S., reinforcing existing inadmissibility standards with clear statutory guardrails.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Original cosponsors of this legislation include Reps. Michael Cloud (TX), Chuck Edwards (NC), Gabe Evans (CO), Chuck Fleischmann (TN), Michael Guest (MS), Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Andy Ogles (TN), Michael Rulli (OH), Mike Simpson (ID), Pete Stauber (NY), Elise Stefanik (NY), Scott DesJarlais (TN), and Claudia Tenney (NY).

The SAFER at The Border Act is supported by the Immigration Accountability Project, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and America First Policy Institute (AFPI).

"While the country is no longer facing the mass release of illegal aliens into the country under the guise of 'humanitarian parole', Congress must act to prevent this kind of abuse from happening again. In light of reports that the Biden Administration released suspected terrorists into the interior during the border crisis, Congress must change the law so that no known or suspected terrorists can ever be granted humanitarian parole. The SAFER at the Border Act prioritizes safeguarding American communities by prohibiting parole for individuals deemed dangerous, including those associated with espionage, sabotage, terrorism, or serious criminal activities. The Immigration Accountability Project applauds Senator Daines and Congressman Langworthy for this effort to help bring sanity and security back to the immigration system,”saidGrant Newman, Director of Government Relations, Immigration Accountability Project.

“For the last four years, suspected terrorists were encountered at our borders in record numbers and special interest aliens flooded into the country, putting the interests of illegal aliens over protecting our national security. As a result of the Biden Administration’s catch-and-release policies and abuse of parole, dangerous aliens were more likely than ever before to slip through the cracks. Limiting the DHS Secretary from paroling aliens designated as terrorists, suspected terrorists, or special interest aliens is a commonsense step. FAIR is proud to support this crucial bill to help ensure the safety of American citizens and protect against the abuse of our immigration laws,”said Joe Chatham, Director of Government Relations, FAIR.

“Border security is national security, and our open southern border has significantly increased our Nation’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks. An unprecedented number of terrorists, special interest aliens, and cartel members have exploited the Biden Administration’s failed border strategy and been released into American communities. We must reverse course from these disastrous policies, secure our border, and stop these national security and public safety threats from entering our Nation. The Safeguarding Americans from Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act empowers the Department of Homeland Security to protect American families,” said Chad Wolf, former acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Executive Director of the America First Policy Institute.

Read the exclusive here.

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