Top Democratic leaders call for rescinding immigration ban

Top Democratic leaders in the US House of Representatives today urged Secretary of Homeland Security Gen (rtd) John Kelly to rescind the ban imposed on the travel of people to the US from seven countries.

"It has become clear to us over the last 48 hours that the Executive Order issued by President Trump on Friday, January 27, entitled 'Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States' belies our proud heritage as a Nation of tolerance, a place of refuge, and a beacon of freedom for the world, and should therefore be rescinded by President Trump," said a letter written by top Democratic leaders in the Congress to Kelly.
 

The letter has been signed by House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel and House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G Thompson, and House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren.

The lawmakers said only two days after the order was signed, it is clear that it has already led to panic and disorder, not to mention protests.

"This is apparently due in part to the lack of internal administration review prior to its issuance as well as a lack of clarity and guidance provided thereafter," they said.

"Given the widespread chaos and confusion caused by the order -- and the issuance of stays last evening concerning the Order by federal courts in New York, Virginia, and Massachusetts -- it is vital that we meet as soon as possible so that we may provide needed guidance and information to our committees and our constituents," the letter said.

Congressman Elliot Engel said it is blatantly wrong for the US to callously tell thousands of people who played by the rules, went through a very long process, and were ultimately approved for entry into this country that they now must turn back, just as they reach American soil.

"Its cruel, its heartless, and its un-American," he said, as he welcomed the decision by a federal court in putting stay order on implementing part of the executive order.

"As much as yesterday was a historic betrayal of our values, today's show of protest all across the country has reminded us to an even greater degree what it really means to be American. As I said today at a protest rally on immigration in Hastings and at an organising meeting in Yonkers, we must continue to stand-up for those true American values," Engel said.