The Friends Committee on National Legislation is outraged by and strongly opposes President Trump’s executive order that will close our doors to refugees fleeing violence and persecution.
The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) is outraged and strongly opposes President Trump’s executive order that will close our doors to refugees fleeing violence and persecution, said Yasmine Taeb, FCNL’s lead lobbyist on human rights and civil liberties.
Support refugees. Stop the Muslim ban.
The United States has a strong, treasured tradition of welcoming those fleeing violence and persecution, as demonstrated by our acceptance of almost one million Vietnamese refugees following the Fall of Saigon. Today, we are grappling with the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. Now, more than ever, the United States must live up to its promise of welcome.
The executive order President Trump signed moments ago grossly violates our core beliefs and runs counter to American values. By suspending the refugee resettlement program for 120 days, indefinitely banning Syrian refugees, and drastically reducing the number of refugees we welcome, will have a devastating impact on the lives of innocent women, children, and men seeking safe haven.
FCNL also stands in firm opposition to President Trump’s executive action to block visas from a number of Muslim-majority countries which will effectively ban Muslims from coming to the United States. These policies are equivalent to the “Muslim ban” that Trump proposed during his campaign and represent a clear violation of the principle of religious freedom. We also believe that the United States has a special obligation to assist those fleeing from countries in which the United States military has recently intervened, including Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia. It is shameful for our nation to elevate the level of violence in other countries, or claim to deploy military force out of a desire to protect civilians, and then turn its back on the people forced to flee these conflicts.
Further, FCNL unequivocally opposes any legislation or proposal that would prioritize Christian immigrants and refugees at the expense of Muslims and individuals from other faiths. It is our responsibility as Americans to welcome those most in need, offer refuge, and lift up our shared humanity. On these grounds, we vehemently oppose Trump’s executive order and call on members of Congress to publicly oppose these discriminatory policies. As a faith community, we will continue to oppose all threats to the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. We must ensure the U.S continues to serve as a safe haven for women, men, and children fleeing violence and persecution.
