State pols blast crackdown as ‘un-American’
Bay State politicians slammed President Trump’s order barring people born in seven Middle Eastern nations from entering the United States yesterday, many of whom blasted the immigration crackdown as “un-American” and unconstitutional.
“Our country has long stood as a beacon of hope to the world with the Statue of Liberty welcoming generations of families in search of safety and a better life,” U.S. Rep. James McGovern said in a statement. “Turning our backs on the innocent women, children, and families desperate to escape violence is not only callous and wrong, it is deeply unAmerican.”
Mayor Martin J. Walsh agreed, saying the order is not only “simply morally wrong, but it won’t come with any security benefits for the country.”
“Preve nt i n g people from entering this country based solely on faith runs counter to everything we stand for as Americans,” Walsh said. “Let’s be clear: This is not an effective way to combat terrorism and increase homeland security. It is a reckless policy that is rooted in fear, not substance, and further divides us as a nation and a world.” WALSH
Gov. Charlie Baker’s office also weighed in, saying subjecting refugees to a religious test is not effective.
“Governor Baker opposes applying religious tests to the refugee system and believes that focusing on countries’ predominant religions will not make the U.S. any safer as terrorists have demonstrated a determination to strike from all corners of the world,” Baker spokesman Brendan Moss said in a statement. “Instead, Governor Baker believes the federal government should focus on improving the techniques and systems in place to stop dangerous people from entering the country, regardless of the nation they seek to strike from.”
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey said: “Turning away immigrants based on their nationality and religion is un-American and in direct opposition to everything for which our Founding Fathers fought. We must ensure that we have the strongest safeguards in place to keep terrorists from ever reaching our shores. And we must fully and thoroughly vet all refugees to screen out any potential terrorist threats. But as conflict & war force millions around the world from their homeland, America should welcome more refugees, not less.”