Trump Angrily Defends His Immigration Ban

CBS News reports:

Following a night of worldwide protests and a federal judge halting deportations of visa holders under his latest executive order, President Trump defended his “extreme vetting” policy Sunday, pointing to Europe as a warning sign for a future without “strong borders.”

U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly issued an emergency order Saturday evening stopping authorities from deporting those with valid visas from nations affected by Mr. Trump’s travel ban.

“There is imminent danger that, absent the stay of removal, there will be substantial and irreparable injury to refugees, visa-holders, and other individuals” from those nations, Donnelly wrote in her stay.

And from the New York Times:



By giving preference to Christians over Muslims, religious leaders have said the executive order pits one faith against another. By barring any refugees from entering the United States for nearly four months, it leaves people to suffer longer in camps, and prevents families from reuniting. Also, many religious leaders have said that putting an indefinite freeze on refugees from Syria, and cutting the total number of refugees admitted this year by 60,000, shuts the door to those most in need.

“We believe in assisting all, regardless of their religious beliefs,” said Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, the chairman of the committee on migration for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Jen Smyers, the director of policy and advocacy for the immigration and refugee program of Church World Service, a ministry affiliated with dozens of Christian denominations, called Friday a “shameful day” in America’s history.

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Trump’s executive order will find more support in the pews. During the campaign, Mr. Trump successfully mined many voters’ concern about national security and fear of Muslims. He earned the votes of four out of every five white evangelical Christians, and a majority of white Catholics, exit polls showed.