Mark Hetfield first joined HIAS as a refugee caseworker in Rome, Italy, to assist Soviet Jews applying to immigrate to the United States as refugees. 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. Named HIAS’ President and CEO in 2013, Mark led the transformation of HIAS as an international nonprofit that used to help refugees because they were Jewish to one that helps refugees because we are Jewish.

In the first Trump administration, under Mark’s leadership, HIAS played a key role in standing up for refugees by successfully suing the administration three times on their attempt to suspend or restrict refugee resettlement to the United States. In 2025, when President Trump attempted to terminate both refugee resettlement and all humanitarian assistance, HIAS brought two additional lawsuits which resulted in orders to reinstate both funding and humanitarian admissions. Now President of HIAS, Mark is playing a leading role with the organization’s transition to HIAS 3.0, to restore HIAS to its original reliance on the generosity of individuals and foundations who identify with the agency’s mission, rather than on partnerships with the U.S. government.

Mark is a frequent commentator and writer on refugee issues before Congress and on television, radio, newspapers and other media outlets. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service, a Juris Doctor and a Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown University.

Since 1986, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights has been dedicated to organizing immigrant communities, winning pro-immigrant policies at all levels of government, and building alliances across communities to build power so that all people have the opportunity to thrive.

ICIRR has been a driving force behind policies and programs that empower immigrant families and help keep families together. These victories include efforts to strengthen and protect the Chicago Welcoming City Ordinance, pass the Illinois TRUST Act, and end ICE detention contracts in Illinois. ICIRR has also led efforts to win immigrant services funding at the state level, push for federal immigration reform, and register more than 250,000 new voters. In 2025 in the face of the new presidential administration, ICIRR is leading the effort to share critical Know-Your-Rights information and offer assistance through their Family Support Network hotline.

JCUA has been proud to be part of the ICIRR coalition since 2017, working in partnership to advance justice and dignity for immigrants across Illinois.