Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) issued the following statement opposing the President's executive order halting the Syrian Refugee Program and barring entry into the United States of citizens from 7 mostly Muslim countries:

“The President's most recent executive order halting the Syrian Refugee Program and barring entry into the U.S. based on religion is unconscionable, if not unconstitutional, and is inconsistent with our American values. This ill-conceived executive order does little to protect us from terrorism, but it does institutionalize a prejudice against Muslims by giving preference to minority Christians in Muslim countries and forbidding majority Muslim populations from entering into the United States on the basis of nothing more than the religion that they practice. Likewise, by banning the entry of all refugees, the Trump Administration dishonors the commitment we made to countless women and children from Syria that have successfully complied with our strict vetting process and now seek only refuge from the carnage of their own war-torn country.

"All Americans, regardless of religion, should be offended by Trump's executive action since there is nothing stopping him from banning anyone of any religion from coming into or staying in the United States. The mass confusion and the protests at airports across this country further demonstrate that the President's executive order is not well reasoned or thoughtfully implemented.

"I call on the President to immediately rescind this executive order and to work with Congress and our National Security professionals to find workable solutions to defeat terrorism while protecting religious freedoms. We are a nation of laws and of immigrants. The actions of the Trump Administration should reflect these American values.”

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