Washington (January 27, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump released executive orders today halting the nation’s refugee program. 

“Today’s executive order from President Trump is more about extreme xenophobia than extreme vetting. This executive order is the equivalent of a “Keep Out” sign posted at America’s borders.

 

“Turning away immigrants based on their nationality and religion is un-American and in direct opposition to everything for which our Founding Fathers fought.  President Trump may not call it a Muslim ban, but it is, and runs afoul of our morals and values. 

 

“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 and war force millions around the world from their homeland, the United States should welcome more refugees, not less.  Suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program will endanger refugees’ lives and tear families apart.”