ALBANY – U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) both publicly challenged President Trump's Executive Order to halt immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries signed on Friday evening, January 27, calling the order “appalling” and “fly[ing] in the face of New York values.”
“I repeatedly urged the last administration to do more to confront the growing humanitarian crisis in Syria and accept more refugee families,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Our diversity is what makes New York strong and our willingness to accept those in need who are fleeing some of the most dangerous and violent places on earth is what the Statue of Liberty represents.”
She continued to say, “Our willingness to take in refugees is not only the right thing to do, but it also helps make our country safer from terrorist threats and shows millions around the globe that America cares for children and families facing strife and persecution. I will continue to stand with immigrant and refugee families and I will fight in the Senate to protect them.”
Senator Schumer shared Gillibrand’s notion that the ban will do more harm than good, stating, “It will encourage lone wolves here in America. They have created most of the terrorism [in the United States].”
“This is a blanket ban,” said Schumer. “It hurts innocent people and doesn’t stop terrorism. It’s just appalling. It was done in such a sloppy and careless way. Major agencies – the Border Patrol, Customs – didn’t even know about it. There were major holes in how it was done, it almost seems like back-of-the envelope.”
Schumer went on to say that he will attempt to repeal the refugee ban by requesting a vote on Monday, January 30, on the Senate floor, but it will ultimately boil down to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has publicly questioned but not refuted the order, to permit the motion.
State of New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman yesterday sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to question the legality of the order, stating, “Let me be clear: President Trump's executive action is unconstitutional and in clear violation of federal law, including both the Establishment Clause and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. I will do everything within my power to help lead the fight to permanently strike it down. I will not allow voiceless refugees, and all those targeted by this reckless action, to be victimized by an unlawful, unconstitutional, and fundamentally un-American decree from the President.”