Over one hundred protesters gathered with signs and slogans outside Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's office.
The congresswoman recently signed a bill that would impose stricter screenings for Syrian and Iraqi refugees trying to enter the country, and her support of the bill has earned her mixed reactions from the community.
Kristin Reisch is a co-organizer of the protests. She says she usually trusts the congresswoman's leadership, but thinks this bill is more about xenophobia than safety.
"The process works. We aren't letting terrorists sneak in with refugees, that is not what's happening in America."
Reish says she doesn't think this bill reflects American values.
"We're supposed to be the brave ones and speak out in times of crisis and speak with courage and this vote was a vote of fear."
A representative from Slaughter's office passed out a statement that matched the one on the congresswoman's Facebook page. It reads, in part:
The SAFE Act was not perfect, but after a careful review of the bill text and hearing from the White House and our national security leaders in a classified briefing, it was my view that an additional layer of certification would not prohibit refugees from entering our country or create significant new delays to an already lengthy process that takes 18-24 months and has brought in just 2,034 Syrians since 2011. As the House works with the Senate and the White House to find common ground, I will continue to fight for a final bill that ensures we are not trapped by the false choice between living up to our humanitarian principles and keeping America safe.
