Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Hawaii upholding the Trump Administration’s Muslim Ban:
“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court is an endorsement of intolerance. Religious freedom is a core American value. No person should be prevented from coming to our country because of his or her faith alone.
“No matter how the President attempts to rewrite or repackage his Muslim Ban, the fact remains that he has repeatedly made bigoted and xenophobic statements about Muslims throughout his campaign and first year in office. We know where this immoral ban came from. The Supreme Court may have declared it constitutional by the thinnest of margins, yet it is just as immoral, discriminatory, and un-American as the day it was first announced.
“The President does not seem to grasp how the Muslim Ban harms America. We gain nothing when we vilify refugees or asylum seekers fleeing from terrorism. We gain nothing when we arbitrarily keep families separated or deny entry to academics, researchers, and businesspersons. By banning Muslims, we play into the hands of extremists who seek to vilify our country, recruit, and radicalize new members.
“The President’s Muslim Ban is a moral failure and a security risk. Regardless of today’s decision, the President should repeal this ban immediately.”
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.
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