Shabbat Reflections: What Now? A Post-Election Discussion on Antisemitism, Refugees, and Democracy 

During the 2024 election season, few key issues have received as much attention as immigration. The national political discourse has featured everything from misinformation to xenophobic remarks to full-blown conspiracy theories. And yet — as alarming as the rhetoric has been — the outcomes for immigrant communities are far worse. The political conversation about immigration in the U.S. should be about proactive and serious solutions, not about how to shut out people who need safety. 

Join Mark Hetfield, HIAS President, to break down what the 2024 election outcomes mean for policies impacting refugees and asylum seekers, challenging antisemitism, and the health of our democracy. 

About Mark Hetfield, HIAS President & CEO
Mark Hetfield first joined HIAS in 1989 as a caseworker in Rome, Italy. He has worked for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a large law firm as an immigration attorney, and has held multiple roles at HIAS over the years. Since being named HIAS’ President and CEO in 2013, Mark has led the transformation of HIAS from helping refugees because they were Jewish to helping refugees because we are Jewish.

Mark is proud of HIAS’ role in assisting and resettling refugees of all faiths and ethnicities and as a major implementing partner of the United Nations Refugee Agency and the U.S. Department of State. He is a frequent commentator and writer on refugee issues on television, radio, newspapers, and other media outlets. Mark holds three degrees from Georgetown University in Washington, DC: a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, a Masters in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctor.