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updated 10:20 AM UTC, Dec 13, 2023

Trump Fires Acting Attorney General For Refusing To Defend Immigration Order

Unic Press UK: U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday sacked the acting attorney general Sally Yates for refusing to support/defend an executive order on immigration. Yates was a holdover from the administration of Barack Obama, pending when a substantive attorney general is appointed/confirmed.

It was on 27th January 2017, that Trump inked an executive order [“Executive Order: Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States”], which placed a series of restrictions/ban on citizens from terror-prone countries. Excerpts from Section 1 of the Order, reads:

“In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles.  The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law.  In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.”

Thereafter, President Trump on the 29th January 2017 issued a statement [“President Donald J. Trump Statement Regarding Recent Executive Order Concerning Extreme Vetting”], saying:

“America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border. America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave. We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months. The seven countries named in the Executive Order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror. To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order. We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days. I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as President I will find ways to help all those who are suffering.”

In a joint press statement [“Statement By Senators McCain & Graham On Executive Order On Immigration”] the duo [John McCain and Lindsey Graham] called into question the rationale behind an executive immigration order that imposed a series of travel restrictions/ban:

“Our government has a responsibility to defend our borders, but we must do so in a way that makes us safer and upholds all that is decent and exceptional about our nation.
“It is clear from the confusion at our airports across the nation that President Trump’s executive order was not properly vetted. We are particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security.
“Such a hasty process risks harmful results. We should not stop green-card holders from returning to the country they call home. We should not stop those who have served as interpreters for our military and diplomats from seeking refuge in the country they risked their lives to help. And we should not turn our backs on those refugees who have been shown through extensive vetting to pose no demonstrable threat to our nation, and who have suffered unspeakable horrors, most of them women and children.
“Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism. At this very moment, American troops are fighting side-by-side with our Iraqi partners to defeat ISIL. But this executive order bans Iraqi pilots from coming to military bases in Arizona to fight our common enemies. Our most important allies in the fight against ISIL are the vast majority of Muslims who reject its apocalyptic ideology of hatred. This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.” (McCain and Lindsey: 29th Jan. 2017)

Trump reacted to the Senators’ position on twitter. Addressing illegal immigration, destroying Islamic State terror group and U.S. border security should be the primary focus of the two senators, said Trump.

There has been widespread protests in the United States over Trump’s executive order on immigration.

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