Speech #CREC-2017-02-02-pt1-PgH932_t1

Kelly, Secretary of Homeland Security, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC. Secretary Kelly: We write to strongly condemn the President's executive order issued January 27, 2017, titled ``Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,'' and the ensuing actions taken by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its agencies, in particular Customs and Border Protection (CBP), to implement the order, and to request an urgent briefing regarding the same. We hope you will urge the President to immediately rescind the Executive Order, which has created profound chaos and fear among refugees and immigrants who have been admitted to the United States, as well as their families. As a nation of immigrants that has been a refuge for people fleeing persecution from around the world, these actions are contrary to who we are as a nation. We understand that you met yesterday at 4:30 PM with Chairs and Ranking Members of relevant Committees to discuss ``recent executive actions.'' You should understand that such a time limited meeting with a subset of Members and Senators in no way obviates the need for the briefing we are requesting for all Members. Such full Member briefings are a frequent occurrence on Capitol Hill after important events such as the issuance of the January 27 Executive Order. They allow all Members to benefit from the knowledge and experiences of the executive branch so that we may be well informed in our legislative and oversight affairs and serve our constituents best. The full Member briefing regarding the Executive Order is particularly needed given the unsettling events of last evening--the abrupt firing of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and the termination without explanation of Daniel Ragsdale as acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The need to brief the full Democratic.Caucus is also necessary as we now understand that guidance concerning the January 27 Executive Order has been provided to Members of the Republican Conference, but not the Democratic Caucus. According to yesterday's Washington Post, ``substantive guidance [concerning the Executive Order was given] to congressional Republicans . . . late Saturday. . . .