Legislation co-sponsored by Rep. Langworthy aims to block parole for suspected terrorists and criminal affiliates, granting states new legal authority over federal immigration decisions.
Staff Report / July 2, 2025
Rep. Nick Langworthy (R‑NY), along with House GOP leaders including Rep. Elise Stefanik, unveiled the Safeguarding Americans From Extremist Risk (SAFER) at the Border Act) this week. The bill aims to overhaul current immigration parole procedures by barring entry to individuals deemed national security threats or linked to criminal networks.
Key provisions include:
- Barring parole for anyone classified as a “known terrorist,” “suspected terrorist,” or “special interest alien”—designations now codified within U.S. immigration law under this bill
- Prohibiting parole for refugees outside the formal refugee admissions process, effectively limiting humanitarian parole for vulnerable populations.
- Empowering states by granting attorneys general authority to sue the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) if parole violations occur—followed by mandated accelerated judicial review
Langworthy, whose 23rd Congressional district includes Schuyler and Steuben counties, emphasized that the legislation responds to growing constituent concerns. “My constituents are fed up with the flood of murderers, terrorists, and dangerous individuals… because of the reckless, failed open‑border policies of the Biden administration,” he stated, calling for “bold, decisive action.”
In August 2024, Langworthy held a press conference tied to the arrest of a Peruvian gang leader—a 23-time murderer—who had allegedly been released via parole from the southern border. That incident lent the measure a sense of urgency.
The bill is currently under review in the House Judiciary Committee following its introduction on August 16, 2024, as H.R. 9373. It maintains a purely partisan GOP sponsorship, with no Democratic co-sponsors to date.
The measure has attracted a coalition of sponsors, including Reps. Neal Dunn, Nancy Mace, Claudia Tenney (NY‑24), and Mike Lawler (NY‑17). Endorsements extend to former DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Senators like Steve Daines and Mike Rounds, who view the legislation as restoring security and enforcing accountability.
If advanced from committee, the SAFER Act is expected to reach the House floor for debate in the coming weeks. Should it pass, the Senate would follow—though its fate remains uncertain, given its current partisan alignment and lack of bipartisan support.
