“The Trump administration is considering issuing an executive order suspending the refugee resettlement program and cutting the 2017 commitment by more than 50 per cent. With this executive order the President and his administration would abandon some of the world’s most vulnerable people. This is an affront to American values and a long history of bi-partisan cooperation. Since its inception, the refugee resettlement program has unified Republicans and Democrats who share the same vision for our country: one that welcomes people who have been through conflict and hunger, who have been persecuted for their beliefs and identity, and are simply looking for a fresh start in a safe place.
“The President’s rhetoric on the campaign trail consistently exaggerated the threat that the U.S. refugee resettlement program poses to the American people. The vetting process through the resettlement program is thorough, taking up to two years, with multiple checks to ensure that those arriving pose no danger. Over the past decades refugees have become a vibrant part of communities across the United States; they are our neighbors, colleagues and friends. Distorting this reality to prey on the American public’s fears and concerns scores political points at the expense of innocent people.
"The United States is the wealthiest country on the planet. The size and strength of its military are unparalleled. Yet by considering denying safe haven to refugees the Trump administration adopts a posture of fear more appropriate for a weak and powerless state. It is afraid of innocent women and children, of families that have escaped conflict and abuses, of individuals who believe in and in some cases have fought for the freedom that the U.S. is supposed to offer. The contrast between this fear-based approach and the willingness of countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Uganda to accept tens of thousands of refugees from neighboring countries is stark.
"Abandoning vulnerable refugees is not the America we know and does not reflect its core values. Doing so would mark a shameful milestone in America’s history. Is this how to make America great? "
