The World Jewish Congress has welcomed legislation adopted by the US Congress to deny Nazi war criminals US Social Security benefits.
Both Houses of Congress last week approved a bill aimed at shutting a loophole that has allowed suspected Nazis to be paid millions of dollars in benefits. Under the bill, benefits would be terminated for Nazi suspects who have lost their American citizenship for lying about their Nazi past during World War II. Currently, US law requires a higher threshold — a final order of deportation — before Social Security benefits can be stopped.
The legislation was introduced after investigation by the ‘Associated Press’ published in October revealed that Social Security benefits have been paid to dozens of former Nazis after they were forced out of the United States.
The House unanimously approved the bill on Tuesday on a 420-0 vote.
The White House and the Social Security Administration signaled support for denying benefits to former Nazis following the AP's report. The Justice Department said it was open to considering proposals that would terminate the Social Security payments.
AP's investigation found that the Justice Department used a legal loophole to persuade Nazi suspects to leave the US in exchange for Social Security benefits. If they agreed to go voluntarily, or simply fled the country before being deported, they could keep their benefits. The Justice Department denied using Social Security payments as a way to expel former Nazis.
The World Jewish Congress welcomed the swift adoption of the No Social Security for Nazis Act. “Coming ahead of the 70th anniversaries of the liberation of the Nazi death camps, the adoption of this bill by Congress sends an important signal: Nazi criminals who illegally obtained US citizenship after World War II by lying about their past and who escaped prosecution should not benefit from American taxpayers’ support,” said WJC CEO Robert Singer.
He added: “We welcome that the US Congress reacted swiftly and in a bipartisan manner. We sincerely hope President Obama will sign this bill into law soon in order to close the loophole allowing Nazi war criminals to continue drawing US Social Security benefits.”
