Trump blocks immigration of refugees

by Hannah Stafford, News Editor

President Trump has signed multiple controversial executive orders since taking office on Jan. 23. His executive order, signed on Jan. 27, banning immigration from the seven Muslim-majority countries of Syria, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen has sparked protests across the U.S. The executive order places a temporary hold on any refugees entering the U.S. for 120 days, an indefinite hold on the entry of Syrian refugees fleeing war in their country and a 90-day hold on entry by citizens of the seven countries listed above.

This is the second time within the last six years that America’s refugee program has been reexamined and altered. The Washington Post reports that President Obama temporarily and significantly slowed the number of visas issued to Iraqis in order to review the vetting process in 2011; however, he did not completely halt the refugee immigration process, according to Obama administration officials. USA Today reports that the concern stemmed from the arrests of two Iraqi refugees on terrorism charges in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Trump claims that the seven-country ban stems from travel policies under the Obama administration. According to CNN, Trump is referring to a law Obama signed in 2015 that limited visa-waiver travel by those who had visited one of the seven countries within the specified time period. People who previously could have entered the United States without a visa were instead required to apply for one if they had traveled to one of the seven countries.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Since then, judges in Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington state have also issued rulings against the ban.[/perfectpullquote]

Trump’s ban is more comprehensive. It bars all citizens from those seven countries from entering the U.S. and leaves green card holders subject to being rescreened after visiting those countries. Until Sunday, there was confusion among Customs and Border Control (CBP) officials about how to enforce the ban, with green card and visa holders detained at airports and reports of limited access to lawyers, stranded families and forced deportations, according to The Washington Post.

Trump’s executive order has ignited international shock and anger. Protests first broke out at JFK International Airport on Jan. 28 after Iraqi travelers were detained. CNN reports that two men, including Hameed Khalid Darweesh, a former translator for the U.S. military in Iraq, were held at the New York airport for several hours as hundreds of Americans picketed outside, demanding their release.

Shortly after the story broke, a habeas corpus petition was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union to have the Iraqis released, and late Saturday night, a federal judge of New York ruled in their favor. The Hill reports that U.S. District Court Judge Ann Donnelly issued an emergency stay, which temporarily halts the removal of individuals who are already in the U.S. and have been previously granted permission to stay.

Since then, judges in Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington state have also issued rulings against the ban. In Boston, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order blocking the removal of two Iranians who teach at the University of Massachusetts, according to Newsweek. The order, set to last seven days, bars officials from detaining, in addition to removing, approved refugees, visa holders and permanent U.S. residents from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

However, CBP officials disagree as to whether the ruling applies to those outside of Boston.

The controversial executive order also prompted two consecutive days of protesting at international airports of major cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, Dallas, New York’s JFK, Raleigh, Houston, Seattle, Portland and Atlanta, according to CNN.

Former President Barack Obama broke his silence Monday to issue a statement praising the protests and denouncing the ban, speaking through Kevin Lewis, his spokesman. Lewis writes that Obama feels the individuals protesting are “exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake.”

“[Former President Obama] fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion,” said Lewis.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Monday for a vote on a proposal to repeal Trump’s executive order, but Senate Republicans quickly blocked all attempts to do so, according to CNN. However, Schumer says that he will oppose all cabinet nominees who support Trump’s executive order.

Meanwhile, Former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates told the Justice Department not to defend the executive order on Monday.

“My responsibility is to ensure that the position of the Department of Justice is not only legally defensible, but is informed by our best view of what the law is after consideration of all the facts,” she said in a letter. “In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution’s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right. At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.”

Trump fired Yates hours after her statement, saying Yates had “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” He named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente as Yates’ replacement, according to the Associated Press.