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Torres Condemns New Immigration Executive Order

March 6, 2017

ONTARIO, CA – Today, Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) issued the following statement condemning President Trump's new executive order which suspends the refugee program and limits travel to the United States for individuals from certain Muslim-majority countries:

"I am extremely disappointed the President decided to reintroduce his travel ban. The order announced today may be more limited, but it is no less reckless, unnecessary, and damaging to our national security. Just as it did before, this new ban will close America's doors to vulnerable women and children fleeing war, persecution, and violence who have already undergone extensive screening. Just like the original ban, the new ban will weaken our campaign against ISIS by undermining our partnerships with Muslim allies fighting alongside us in Iraq and Syria and by enabling ISIS to recruit new members by portraying the United States as anti-Muslim. And just like before, this new ban lacks a clear rationale or benefit for national security.

"The only purpose this executive order serves is to create fear and panic and further the President's narrative that immigrants and foreigners are the enemy. The facts just don't back him up. Refugees already undergo a lengthy, extensive screening process, and his own Department of Homeland Security found that people from the countries singled out don't pose a threat. Trump's new travel ban goes against the very values our nation was built on, and I fully intend to do everything in my power as a Member of Congress to fight it."

Rep. Torres is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. She joined nearly 200 Members of Congress in cosponsoring H.R. 724, the Statue of Liberty Values Act of 2017, which would have defunded the original ban. She also recently spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about the impact of the ban on women and children fleeing violence in Central America.