Mr. Tillerson's time at ExxonMobil stands in stark
contrast to these policy goals and makes me doubt whether, if approved,
he would effectively protect our environment and work with our partners
around the world to uphold our commitments as Secretary of State. On immigration, I am concerned about whether Mr. Tillerson can be an
effective advocate for policies that keep the American people safe
while preserving our ties with key partners and upholding our values
internationally. President Trump's Executive order blocking immigrants from certain
Muslim-majority nations is, in my view, unconstitutional, un-American,
cruel to those fleeing danger and injustice, and ultimately makes us
less secure. It ignores the horrific circumstances refugees are fleeing
in numerous war-torn regions. It suggests the insertion of arbitrary
religious and ethnic considerations and fails to account for the strict
vetting procedures already in place for refugees, particularly from
Syria and areas of conflict. It is also contrary to our history as a
nation that, from its birth, has benefited from the contributions of
hard-working and successful immigrants. In particular, this Executive order is a betrayal of our commitment
to those who risk their lives to serve as translators for our troops
fighting in Iraq. Through the Special Immigrant Visa Program, we
promised these brave Iraqis the opportunity to resettle in the United
States in recognition of their invaluable contributions to our wartime
missions. Yet this administration has effectively blocked these SIV
Program recipients without a second thought. In addition, the President's actions on immigration are making
America less safe by undermining key relationships with allies and
partners. The President's Executive order on immigration hands ISIS a
self-inflicted propaganda victory that reinforces their claim that the
United States is at war with all of Islam. It damages our diplomatic
relationships with Muslim-majority nations, whether on the list or not,
by undermining their willingness and ability to cooperate with U.S. law
enforcement and intelligence agencies in sharing information on
potential terrorist attackers. It may also compel these countries to
reciprocate by prohibiting Americans from entering their borders.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants Immigrant Visa refugees