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Trump Defends Travel Ban | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Protests outside Terminal 4 at JFK airport where two Iraqis were detained despite holding valid visas Getty Images


Washington – U.S. President Donald Trump defended the executive order issued on Friday which bans citizens of seven Islamic countries from entering into the U.S.. The ban prompted a series of protests all over the United States and across the world.

President Trump ridiculed on Monday morning Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who became emotional Sunday while condemning the president’s travel ban.

“I noticed Chuck Schumer yesterday with fake tears,” Trump said. “I’m going to ask him who is his acting coach.”

Trump went on, ” I know him. I don’t see him as a crier.” He added: “There’s about a 5 percent chance it was real. But I think they were fake tears.”

Trump asked those against him to study the world saying: “There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!”

Senator Chuck Schumer held a press conference on Sunday during which he accused Trump of dividing the nation. Schumer was fighting his tears during an emotional statement.

The President signed on Friday an executive order that temporarily banned travel to the U.S. for people from various countries, including some already in transit, as well as delaying of accepting refugees for at least 120 days and banning Syrian refugees indefinitely.

“Only 109 people out of 325,000 were detained and held for questioning. Big problems at airports were caused by Delta computer outage … protesters and the tears of Senator Schumer. Secretary Kelly said that all is going well with very few problems. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!” Trump tweeted.

Trump in a statement on Sunday argued that his newly signed executive order “is not a Muslim ban.”

He said: “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.”

Trump stressed that he will keep U.S. free and safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. He argued that his 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,” he explained.

The president said that visas will be issued again to all countries once they were sure and have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days.

About the ban for Syrian people, he stated: “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.”

Several White House officials defended the order saying it is proactive to prevent terrorist attacks from happening like they did in Europe.

Sixteen attorneys General of U.S. States condemn Donald Trump’s Muslim ban as unlawful.

Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to Donald Trump, said that it’s the new administration’s job to prevent terrorist attacks like those in France, Belgium, and Germany from happening in the U.S.

In a joint statement, the officials from California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Virginia, Vermont, Oregon, Connecticut, New Mexico, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Illinois and the District of Columbia condemned the “chaotic situation” the order had created.

They said: “Religious liberty has been, and always will be, a bedrock principle of our country and no president can change that truth”.