Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against President
Trump's Muslim ban, an executive order that emboldens our enemies,
undermines our alliances, and offends our American values. This ban
has, among other things, blocked visas for interpreters from the Middle
East, people who risk their lives to save American lives. When I was deployed to Afghanistan as an intelligence officer, I
worked with many interpreters; and at first, I realized they not only
provided accurate information, they kept us safe. As time went along
and I got to know them, what I came to realize is that they were the
ones who were unsafe.