UPDATE: As you’ve probably heard, a federal judge has stayed the Executive Order. Hooray! No matter:
Signal boost:
Boston Protest Against Muslim Ban and Anti-Immigration Orders
Copley Square tomorrow Sunday 1/29 1-3pm
—–
Dark day for America yesterday … we’re early on in a parade of unnecessary and self-destructive cruelty.
Yesterday, on Holocaust Memorial Day, white nationalist advisor Steve Bannon the President put out a statement that did not mention Jews.
And then he followed through on his “Muslim ban” on immigration — slamming the door on refugees and leaving some 500,000 Green Card holders currently outside the country with no way to get back in. Moms and Dads, families. People fleeing persecution for helping the US.
The outrage has been white-hot, deep, and I think, broad.
Here’s Tufts professor and political commentator Daniel Drezner:
Dear @POTUS: on Holocaust Remembrance Day my synagogue told me the Syrian refugee family we’re sponsoring is not coming. Go fuck yourself.
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) January 27, 2017
Rep. Seth Moulton, an Iraq vet who became very close to his Iraqi translators:
“President Trump is leading our country out of fear instead of facts. His executive orders banning refugees and immigrants from some Muslim majority countries to the United States play right into the hands of our enemies. ISIS has already used his statements to help recruit new suicide bombers, and you can bet Trump’s policies will help inspire attacks against Americans both at home and abroad.
“His policies literally put our troops’ lives at risk—I’ve heard this loud and clear when I have visited them overseas. They also prove he has zero understanding of our country’s values and no intention of defending our Constitution.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and America is stronger when we welcome the refugees of our enemies. These policies do not put America first. I am ashamed that he is our president,” said Moulton.
Unfortunately, Trump isn’t even an outlier on this in the Republican Party, of course. Jeb Bush talked about privileging Christians in accepting refugees; many of the candidates promised a version of “extreme vetting”.
The directive is likely illegal. God knows how long it will take to get it removed; or how that would even be enforced. The Trump administration can break the law until Congress tells him not to; and then what’s the enforcement mechanism?
Four shameful years.
Christopher says
…but isn’t it up to Congress to do this by law? I thought executive orders were for directives on internal matters to the executive branch, but not for changes in policy.
doubleman says
Congress has ceded too many of their powers to the executive branch. Trump is going to do what he wants to do unless Congress stops him, and that would probably get to the point of needing impeachment. I’m not going to hold my breath that a GOP-led Congress will do that.
scott12mass says
I guess the executive branch feels they can decide immigration policy without consulting Congress. Maybe our elected Congressional representatives will grow some spines and pull some of the power out of the Executive branch now that liberals see how that power can be abused. Obama changed policy on his own in regards to Cuba, don’t remember a big outcry.
“Effective immediately, Cuban nationals who attempt to enter the United States illegally and do not qualify for humanitarian relief will be subject to removal,” Obama said.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Cuban-American Republican from Florida, agreed. “With just eight days left in his administration, President Obama has found one more way to frustrate the democratic aspirations of the Cuban people and provide yet another shameful concession to the Castro regime,” he said.
jconway says
This is an intellectually dishonest comparison. Taking special privileges away from Cuban asylum seekers nobody else had and making them go through the normal process like anyone else is totally different from bannning all asylum seekers from an entire region.
I’d add that this deal was done with concessions from the Cuban government to facilitate easier access for Cuban Americans to revisit home and reunite with their families without fear of reprisal from the government. Even opponents of the regime.
Have ISIS or Assad agreed to stop killing people in exchange for us making it more difficult for their victims to come here? I don’t think so. This was lazy gotcha politics and not informed commentary.
sabutai says
The ten year olds in my class also excuse hitting people with “he did something once too!”
We can be better. If we want.
fredrichlariccia says
standing up and speaking out for our most vulnerable brothers and sisters — Muslims, veterans, immigrants — he champions them all.
I know I speak for many citizens of the 6th CD when I say how proud and grateful we are to have him fighting for ALL of us. Thank you, Seth !
” There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” ELIE WIESEL
Fred Rich LaRiccia
petr says
apologies
sabutai says
I need some time before I’m convinced he isn’t just the House’s answer to Cory Booker — a sound bite hero.
Any Congressperson who doesn’t publicly oppose this needs to go. We have 435 seats to fill, and 300,000,000 choices to fill them.
jconway says
He walks the walk on this issue, though I agree he was wrong on charters.
And totally agree with your last point. I refuse to vote for, donate to or volunteer for any Democrat that doesn’t oppose this. And I want Gov. Baker to oppose this too.
doubleman says
If any Dem supports any of Trump’s cabinet picks after this, they should be shamed and primaried.
He can get nothing but obstruction and a fight. Not one fucking inch.
petr says
… about a week. Perhaps, this was in the works during the transition… but, if it was, that it didn’t leak is indication that either people can’t say ‘this is a bad idea” to the President, or simply (and even more scarily) are in lockstep agreement with him on this…
My hope was that adults would at least rein in the worst impulses… but, as seen in the insistence on retroactively winning the popular vote, I don’t think we’ve actually seen the worst yet and the rapidity suggests a distinct lack of dissent.
Adam Gopnik is where I’m putting my money on ‘first journalist jailed’ by the Trump administration. His particular insights about the Republican Congress are worth a years subscription to the New Yorker by themselves…
terrymcginty says
Thanks wil check him out.
Peter Porcupine says
Carter issued similar bans although his had medical emergency exceptions. I only not know if Trump’s does. I doubt anyone bothered to look before writing about it. But as far as legality goes, there seems to be precedent, especially since Carter’s also contained a clause that exceptions would be made for those actively denouncing Muslim actions, so a 1st amendment argument might fail.
Charley on the MTA says
A little history of immigration exclusions …
Carter’s policy was specific retaliation for the hostage-taking.
The others were motivated by straight-up racism, xenophobia … the things that we like to imagine that we’re over. Until we’re not.
Charley on the MTA says
I don’t know what that is, and I don’t think I wanna know.
jimcaralis says
the protest or part of the protest should be moved to logan airport.
jimcaralis says
At logan airport tonight starting at 7pm
terrymcginty says
Posted link for tomorrow’s march on Facebook
kirth says
Bloomberg points out that
Not on the list: Saudi Arabia, home of all of the 9-11 terrorists.
Christopher says
…lit up with late breaking news that a federal judge in Brooklyn has issued a temporary stay to this order.
doubleman says
I believe it only applies to those who have returned to the US with a valid visa and who have been detained at airports. Those waiting in airports abroad hoping to come to the US are still blocked.
BMG – please correct this if I am mistaken.