WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday after a federal district judge in Hawaii issued a temporary restraining order against President Trump’s second attempt at barring visas for citizens of certain Muslim majority countries and suspending new refugee admissions.
“President Trump continues to believe that he and his administration are above the Constitution of the United States. And once again, a federal judge has carried out his constitutional duty of checks and balances on dangerous overreach from an executive order that targeted individuals based on religion. Despite minor changes, this latest executive order was just as legally objectionable and morally reprehensible as the original.
“There is a real threat that this nation faces from terrorism, and our policy efforts must address that threat. But President Trump seems convinced that the only way to keep Americans safe is to lock our doors and abandon any shred of moral leadership that might remain. His orders have made us less safe and have helped strengthen the hand of those who would do us harm either through recruitment or self-radicalization.
“President Trump still does not understand that our diversity makes us stronger as a country, not weaker. I urge the president to rescind his discriminatory executive orders targeting Muslim refugees and travelers. After more than two strikes against his travel ban, perhaps he now understands that the most effective route to keep our nation safe is to work with Congress on comprehensive immigration reform rather than continuing to damage our relationship with much of the world.
“Today in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, we marked the 6th anniversary of the brutal conflict in Syria in part by recognizing its toll on innocent civilians and acknowledging some of the Syrian refugees who have been resettled in communities in Maryland. It was an honor to meet them and welcome them to the United States.”
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