I’m not pleased with Trump’s Executive Order restricting immigration.
It runs contrary to the spirit of America.
I understand the need to vet immigrants, but a universal ban on immigration, particularly banning refugees from war-torn Syria, sends a really bad message to the world that I’m embarrassed to be a part of.
I’m particularly embarrassed by the priority given to Christian immigrants. That, in my opinion, is the work of Mike Pence, who I’m increasingly worried is pulling Trump’s puppet strings.
That being said, I cannot find the specific language in the Executive Order which prioritizes Christians over other faiths. I can’t help but wonder how you prove someone is a Christian or not anyway. Oh, here it is, it’s hidden:
“the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes, to the extent permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality.”
So it’s not “Christians” per se it’s “minority religions in the country of origin.”
Regardless, that is a direct violation of the American principle of religious neutrality.
Lest we give up hope, however, here is some good news.
The ban only lasts 90 days:
“I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order”
There is language in the Executive Order which allows exceptions:
“the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may, on a case-by-case basis, and when in the national interest, issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise blocked.”
And … well, there are elections coming up in 2020.
UPDATE
Saturday night a federal judge in New York ruled that people with valid visas could not be sent back to their country origin. That’s how separation of powers is supposed to work. It’s only temporary, though. The judge’s ruling is only going to help people stuck in airports, it won’t have any effect on future immigration.
