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B’nai B’rith International joined a group of 20 international Jewish organizations that signed a letter addressed to President Obama, calling for a holistic solution to the U.S. border crisis “that prioritizes safety and opportunity.”

The story was covered by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and The Forward

According to recent figures by HIAS, more than 50,000 unaccompanied children have crossed into the United States along its southern border in the past nine months and another 80,000 to 90,000 are expected by the end of the current fiscal year.

Read highlights from the JTA article below:



The statement released Tuesday, which was written by the refugee resettlement agency HIAS, calls on the government to “welcome the stranger” in dealing with those entering the United States through Mexico from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

“The safety and well-being of these migrants – and particularly the unaccompanied children – must be at the heart of every policy decision made in response to this humanitarian crisis,” according to the statement, which was signed by such groups as the American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith International and the Jewish Federations of North America.

In the statement, the Jewish organizations call for a long term, holistic solution “that prioritizes safety and opportunity.” They call for increased border enforcement in connection with measures to ensure that those in danger of persecution in their homeland can seek asylum in the United States. 

The Jewish groups also are calling for increased funding for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Policy.