One of the first things President Trump did when he entered
office in January 2017 was sign Executive Order 13769, titled “Protecting the
nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” A campaign promise
he made to the American people yet it was met with so much hate and vengeance when
all it was meant to do was protect those he was now responsible to protect as
our Commander in Chief.
When Executive Order 13769
was rolled out on January 27, 2017 there were numerous protests and of
course legal challenges that ended up in a nationwide temporary restraining
order which was issued on February 3, 2017, Washington v. Trump. Thanks to the
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit the Department of Homeland
Security had to stop enforcing portions of the order and the State Department
had to re-validate visas that had been revoked.
Not only was the order criticized by members of Congress who
should have been behind our President, especially since the countries named in
the travel ban are the same ones President Obama named in his travel ban, but
we also had criticism from university professors and students, business
leaders, and an array of other groups and organizations who felt we should have
opened boarders. We heard arguments from many this wasn’t a travel ban to
protect Americans from terrorist but a ban to keep Muslims out of the United
States since the order targeted Muslim-majority countries. What they were
missing and some still are, is this order was issued to protect Americans from
people who cannot be properly vetted.
On the side of those who understood and supported the ban
the argument was this ban only affected 13% of Muslims worldwide, the countries
were previously selected by President Obama’s administration as areas of
concern for terrorist activity yet no one complained then, and it was only for
90 days. The idea was to give the new administration a chance to develop “extreme
vetting” procedures to reduce the probability of terrorist entering the United
States.
On March 16, 2017 Executive Order 13780 was issued to
supersede the original Executive Order but still it was blocked by the United
States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. What everyone was missing is it
states in the Constitution of the United States it is the responsibility of our
President to protect the people of this great nation not those who wish to
enter it.
No matter how much we argue this is not a party issue, it’s
not Republicans against Democrats it’s about American people feeling safe in
their beds at night, going to the mall, go to concerts or festivals and feeling
safe. No one in this country should feel the fear of being attacked by
terrorist. Not with the ability we have to vet people and see to it those who
are on the watch list are not allowed in this country nor are their family
members. Of course there are those who we have no idea if they have any connections
we need to be aware of, that’s where the extreme vetting comes in. How easy everyone
seems to forget September 11 or the Boston Marathon. So many lives effected and
if we just took that extra measure it may have been prevented.
We all know nothing is perfect and even with “extreme
vetting” people can and will get through the cracks but there is a better
chance of that not happening if we give this administration or any
administration the chance to do what they feel is best to serve and protect the
people of this great nation. We all come from immigrants but at a different
time when people weren’t out to do damage and harm to perhaps the greatest
nation in this world, I know it is in my eyes.
So today the Supreme Court rendered its decision and this is
how it goes. Starting Thursday June 29, 2017 the Trump administration will be
allowed to enforce the travel ban. There are some stipulations as the Court’s
ruling only allows certain people to be banned. If someone has a “bona fide
relationship” with a person or organization in America they will be allowed to
enter, as well as anyone who already has a valid visa to enter the United
States.
So although the Supreme Court approved the ban it is
modified somewhat and they did offer some guidance as to who will be allowed to
enter under the modified ban. President Trump being the positive person he has
been in getting things done that he promised during his campaign felt this was
a clear victory for the people of this great nation, to our national security.
The travel ban still allows travel suspension for six
terrorist countries. In his speech today President Trump said: “As President I
cannot allow people into our country who want to do us harm. I want people who
can love the United States and all of its citizens, and who will be hardworking
and productive.” I do not understand how anyone can disagree with this. I am
all for helping people who really need our help but we have our hands full with
Americans who are in need of our help. Do we turn our backs on our own in order
to let others in who will take what resources we have away from American
citizens and possibly put many lives in danger or do we take that extra step
and ensure the safety of all Americans and the ability of those entering this
country to be able to support and take care of themselves and not live off of
our generosity?
President Trump also said: “My number one responsibility as
Commander in Chief is to keep the American people safe. Today’s ruling allows
me to use an important tool for protecting our Nation’s homeland. I am also
particularly gratified that the Supreme Court’s decision was 9-0.” So here is
how that ruling goes, the Supreme Court’s four liberal justices, Ruth Bader
Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan joined with Justice Anthony
Kennedy and Chief Justice John Roberts in partially lifting the hold on the
ban. For me this was pretty much what I expected. The conservative justices
Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, and Samuel Alito argued that the administration
should be allowed to enforce the ban in all cases.
Final outcome, the Trump administration will be able to bar
citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the
United States for a period of 90 days. They will be able to bar nearly all
refugees from entering the United States for a period of 120 days only if they
have not already been issued a visa or if they don’t have a “bona fide
relationship with a person or entity in the United States.”
So according to the ruling, people coming to live with or
visit a family member will be allowed in the United States and so will people
coming here to study, teach, or speak at our schools or to work for an American
business. On the other hand tourists from these six countries who do not have
family members in the United States will definitely be barred from entering.
What seems to be concerning so many people is what effect
this will have on the refugees seeking to escape one of these countries since
the do not have jobs lined up in the United States or family members already
here. There are those who have a relationship with a United States based organization
so they will be able to enter the country with a US based “refugee resettlement
agency” who will be responsible for settling the refugees in the United States.
Right now every refugee who is entering the United States has already been
placed with an agency however, the Supreme Court did not clarify whether being
a client with a resettlement agency counts as a “bona fide relationship” with
an organization. Of course the organizations fighting the ban are saying it
does but so far it is not clear if the Trump administration will agree. I don’t
agree, I feel they need to be able to take care of themselves either by being
with family members who are already here or by actually having a job when they
get here.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case against the
travel ban after it returns to session in October however by that point the at
least the 90 day ban will have been completed and the 120 day refugee ban will
be nearing its end. By then this administration will have a better idea on how
to vet these countries who are on this list and will have gathered important
information needed to do the job right.
I know there are many who will not agree with me, I am not
at all surprised, but this travel ban is necessary in order to protect American
citizens. This decision today by the Supreme Court is a major victory for the
Trump administration. President Trump promised the American people he would not
give up, he would not back down, and he would always fight for what he believed
to be best for this country and he did just that.
When the Supreme Court returns from recess in October and
they hear the case against the travel ban they can rule the lower courts were
right all along but it would be falling on deaf ears since the ban will already
have happened and be either nearing its end or has already ended.
I, for one, am happy President Trump and his administration
fought for what they believed was best for all Americans. We never want to
close our doors on people who need us but we also have to open our eyes and see
all the Americans who can use a helping hand already in this country. America
and all American citizens must come first, in support and in protecting our
boarders. No child should ever have to live in fear or go to bed without a
meal. We are so saddened when we see the images of children and refugees from
other countries but we close our eyes to homelessness and helplessness of
Americans who struggle every day. Where is the sense in all of this when you
can put other countries before our own?
We need to stop all the fighting, we need to open our eyes
and loving hearts we have for others and open them for our own. America must
once again become united and we must always put America First in order to “Make
America Great Again.”
May God Bless America and keep us growing strong.
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