By Douglas V. Gibbs
President Donald Trump is doing what he said he was going to do. He is acting upon what voters found appealing enough to put him in the White House. His moves challenge the establishment, and slugs the liberal left system in the face. The liberal left progressive socialist commies do not like to be manhandled in such a way, and they are doing all they can to stop the Trump Train. In short, it is becoming a war. If there is anything he has failed at, so far, it has been messaging. Any move he makes will receive great opposition from the liberal left. The Trump administration needs to learn how to anticipate how the left will react, and message their actions in such a way that it neutralizes the Democrat Party's disjointed screaming and accusations.
Hand in hand with messaging is also the necessity of carefully scripting each move and action so as to ensure that the exceptions to the rule of whatever it may be are addressed.
In my thirty-plus years of involvement in the political world I have learned that there are three kinds of leftists.
1) The true believers who know that the reality is what they are pushing is Marxism, but they believe in it because they themselves are Marxists who truly believes that individualism is a disease, and that collectivism can only be achieved by totalitarian government control.
2) The liberals who believe the propaganda, and truly buy into the feel-good rhetoric about community and common good, and are so deep into the deceptive Democrat Party narrative that they are unable to see reason and common sense through the fog. These are the people, who, if convinced that lying and cheating is good for the common good, are capable of getting to the point of cheating at solitaire, and seeing nothing wrong with it.
2) The liberals who believe the propaganda, and truly buy into the feel-good rhetoric about community and common good, and are so deep into the deceptive Democrat Party narrative that they are unable to see reason and common sense through the fog. These are the people, who, if convinced that lying and cheating is good for the common good, are capable of getting to the point of cheating at solitaire, and seeing nothing wrong with it.
3) The low hanging fruit who vote leftist, and are pretty sure they are leftist, but in reality they are not, and the real reason they vote Democrat is because they have bought into the "Democrats are for the poor and Republicans are for the rich" lie, and they have bought into the unsubstantiated claims that all Republicans are racist, sexist and evil. When faced with an incompetent Democrat who they disagree with, or a racist, sexist evil Republican, they'll vote for the Democrat because in their opinion, at least he intends to be helpful. However, if they are exposed to a sliver of the truth, and realize they've been lied to, these are the ones who walk away, and become new conservatives.
The last group is the most heavily populated, and the first two groups are foaming at the mouth that the "outside the establishment" guy in the White House is trying to dislodge the third group out of the collective fold.
Anger, and misdirection is only the beginning in this war for the soul of America, and ultimately, for liberty worldwide.
Anger, and misdirection is only the beginning in this war for the soul of America, and ultimately, for liberty worldwide.
Among the enemies against liberty is Islam, an ideology that says it is a religion, but is in truth a totalitarian political movement with the goal of world domination. The liberal left has allied with the Muslims, because they are either fooled by the deception, or they believe a world dominated by a seventh century mentality is a good thing. President Trump has signed an executive order to ban the import of Muslim migrants/refugees for the next few months until it can be determined how we can flush the terrorists out of the hordes of Muslims fleeing a war-torn Middle East. The question is simple. Are the refugees truly refugees, or are they actually invaders practicing hijrah, which is jihad by immigration.
I totally understand that there are those who are suffering under the barbaric systems in Islamic countries, and have been victims to violence and torturous conditions largely propagated by groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. However, that is not reason enough to let every single person who "claims" to be a refugee into the United States.
ISIS a couple weeks ago burned alive a mother and her four children who were caught fleeing the caliphate, or the territory it still controls in Iraq, Iraqi News reported.
The four children comprised of three girls and a nine-month-old boy. They were caught by ISIS militants in Hawija on their way to Kirkuk, a source told Iraqi News on Jan. 14.
Upon capture, the mother and her children were bound, doused with petrol, and set ablaze, the source said, adding that they were torched to death in front of a group of civilians.
In an earlier report, a Syrian woman told the American human rights group Roads of Success that the ISIS shows no mercy even to innocent children, Christian News reported.
The woman identified as Alice Assaf said her young son was murdered by ISIS militants who also "grabbed six strong men working at the bakery and burned them alive in the oven."
Still not content, the terrorists "caught some 250 kids and kneaded them like dough in the bakery dough machine," Assaf said, adding that the oldest child killed was four years old.
"Two days later, when the Islamic militants got the news that the army will invade the area, they started to throw the children out of balconies as a warning to the army," Assaf said.
If they're not killing children, the ISIS is indoctrinating and teaching them to become savages like their mentors by forcing them to execute prisoners by shooting them at point-blank range. Recently, the ISIS released a video showing a toddler shooting a man tied up in a children's ball pit. The video even showed children beheading prisoners.
The New York Times is reporting that the number exceeded 1,000 protesters who rallied outside the Terminal 4 arrival hall in reaction to the news that more than a dozen immigrants and refugees had been detained at JFK Airport under Donald Trump's new executive order to block immigration from certain Muslim countries. I am sure they weren't overly concerned while TSA was feeling up nuns, children, and disabled Americans in wheelchairs during Obama's administration.
The four children comprised of three girls and a nine-month-old boy. They were caught by ISIS militants in Hawija on their way to Kirkuk, a source told Iraqi News on Jan. 14.
Upon capture, the mother and her children were bound, doused with petrol, and set ablaze, the source said, adding that they were torched to death in front of a group of civilians.
In an earlier report, a Syrian woman told the American human rights group Roads of Success that the ISIS shows no mercy even to innocent children, Christian News reported.
The woman identified as Alice Assaf said her young son was murdered by ISIS militants who also "grabbed six strong men working at the bakery and burned them alive in the oven."
Still not content, the terrorists "caught some 250 kids and kneaded them like dough in the bakery dough machine," Assaf said, adding that the oldest child killed was four years old.
"Two days later, when the Islamic militants got the news that the army will invade the area, they started to throw the children out of balconies as a warning to the army," Assaf said.
If they're not killing children, the ISIS is indoctrinating and teaching them to become savages like their mentors by forcing them to execute prisoners by shooting them at point-blank range. Recently, the ISIS released a video showing a toddler shooting a man tied up in a children's ball pit. The video even showed children beheading prisoners.
The need to welcome refugees as we can see in that story is important. There are people being slaughtered for wishing to escape the conditions in the Middle East. But, should the practice of welcoming Muslim refugees be so open and general as to let the very people causing the violent conditions in the Middle East into America as well? That is why Trump is simply calling for "extreme vetting." Let's make sure that when the mother and children fleeing imminent death are allowed into this country, a few dozen jihadists don't come in with them as well.
⏩ WORLD ORDER SHAKEN...
Congress has the authority as per Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution to write legislation prohibiting anyone they choose from immigrating into the United States. During the first couple weeks of his presidency Donald J. Trump decided to take the task upon himself using an executive order. So, while I would prefer the method be through legislation as is called for by the Constitution, I support the idea of banning migrants from countries who are either funding terrorism, or have a leadership participating in the chants of "Death to America" until we can come up with a vetting procedure that can somehow separate the good from the bad.
Trump's move, however, has stirred anger among the leftists who consider his move to be unfair, and some world leaders are condemning Trump's decision.
Congress has the authority as per Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution to write legislation prohibiting anyone they choose from immigrating into the United States. During the first couple weeks of his presidency Donald J. Trump decided to take the task upon himself using an executive order. So, while I would prefer the method be through legislation as is called for by the Constitution, I support the idea of banning migrants from countries who are either funding terrorism, or have a leadership participating in the chants of "Death to America" until we can come up with a vetting procedure that can somehow separate the good from the bad.
Trump's move, however, has stirred anger among the leftists who consider his move to be unfair, and some world leaders are condemning Trump's decision.
America is exceptional (meaning, the exception to the rule) because we do not follow the rest of the world into chaos. We do things differently here, and so Trump, in that spirit, will likely not be rattled by the screams and cries of a few leftists who can't seem to understand that the basic message of Islam is to kill them all for daring not to be Muslim.
The communist Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and (embattled because her Muslim refugees policy has made Germany an Islamic country filled with terror attacks) German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized Trump and said their nations won’t change their immigration policies.
Merkel expressed her concerns about a ban during a call with Trump on Saturday, according to a tweeted statement from spokesman Steffen Seibert. “It is not justified to put people of a particular background or religious belief under general suspicion” even as governments try to grapple with the threat of terrorism, the statement said. Merkel last week said Germany would continue to pursue a global agenda.
Merkel expressed her concerns about a ban during a call with Trump on Saturday, according to a tweeted statement from spokesman Steffen Seibert. “It is not justified to put people of a particular background or religious belief under general suspicion” even as governments try to grapple with the threat of terrorism, the statement said. Merkel last week said Germany would continue to pursue a global agenda.
Even if those people want to kill you? Looks like you've done a great job in Germany, Merkel. Your citizens are terrified, and the Muslims all but control every action your country makes. . . because your guilt from World War II has you acting stupidly in the face of a threat that makes Nazism look like a cake walk.
Condemnation went beyond world leaders, and included wealthy leftists like Netflix Inc.’s chief executive officer who called the changes “un-American,” while Alphabet Inc.’s Google advised staff who may be impacted by the order to return to the U.S. immediately.
"Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW," Trump told his almost 23 million Twitter followers early Sunday. "Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!"
Under Trump's executive order, the admission of refugees would be suspended for 120 days. Citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya would be banned from entering the U.S. for 90 days, while the government determined what information it needed from other countries to safely admit visitors. The order didn’t list the countries, but pointed to laws that cover those seven, which were provided by the White House.
⏩ PRIEBUS: We Won't Apologize For Keeping America Safe...
Condemnation went beyond world leaders, and included wealthy leftists like Netflix Inc.’s chief executive officer who called the changes “un-American,” while Alphabet Inc.’s Google advised staff who may be impacted by the order to return to the U.S. immediately.
"Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW," Trump told his almost 23 million Twitter followers early Sunday. "Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!"
Under Trump's executive order, the admission of refugees would be suspended for 120 days. Citizens of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya would be banned from entering the U.S. for 90 days, while the government determined what information it needed from other countries to safely admit visitors. The order didn’t list the countries, but pointed to laws that cover those seven, which were provided by the White House.
⏩ PRIEBUS: We Won't Apologize For Keeping America Safe...
In response to the worldwide criticism, President Trump's White House chief of staff Reince Priebus told NBC's Chuck Todd on 'Meet The Press' to defend Trump's executive order restricting people coming into the U.S. from seven middle eastern countries.
"The fact of the matter is that 325,000 people from foreign countries came into the United States yesterday, and 109 people were detained for further questioning. Most of those people were moved out. We’ve got a couple dozen more that remain," Priebus told Todd. "I would suspect that as long as they are not awful people, they will be moved through today... If they’re folks that shouldn’t be in this country, they’re going to be detained. So we apologize for nothing here."
"The fact of the matter is that 325,000 people from foreign countries came into the United States yesterday, and 109 people were detained for further questioning. Most of those people were moved out. We’ve got a couple dozen more that remain," Priebus told Todd. "I would suspect that as long as they are not awful people, they will be moved through today... If they’re folks that shouldn’t be in this country, they’re going to be detained. So we apologize for nothing here."
The difficulty is that there is only so many personnel to go around when it comes to enforcing Trump's new temporary ban on Muslims coming into the country from places infested with terrorism and jihadist organizations. Therefore, to assist in the task, President Donald Trump is reviving a program that deputizes local officers to enforce federal immigration law.
The program will likely be used to assist in the crackdown at the border as the plans to build a border wall and hire thousands more federal agents is still in the early stages. Liberal leftists have criticized the program allowing local authorities to assist in federal enforcement of federal laws because they say it promotes racial profiling.
The program will likely be used to assist in the crackdown at the border as the plans to build a border wall and hire thousands more federal agents is still in the early stages. Liberal leftists have criticized the program allowing local authorities to assist in federal enforcement of federal laws because they say it promotes racial profiling.
Racial profiling, to be honest, is a necessary part in this plan. The reality is, Islamic terrorists are almost always Muslim, therefore, it would make sense to target that group more heavily when searching for Muslim terrorists.
The New York Times is reporting that the number exceeded 1,000 protesters who rallied outside the Terminal 4 arrival hall in reaction to the news that more than a dozen immigrants and refugees had been detained at JFK Airport under Donald Trump's new executive order to block immigration from certain Muslim countries. I am sure they weren't overly concerned while TSA was feeling up nuns, children, and disabled Americans in wheelchairs during Obama's administration.
Chants of "Let them in! Let them in!" could be heard from inside the airport.
At one point there were so many protesters arriving that AirTrain shuttles between terminals were halted "for public safety, due to crowding conditions.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the AirTrain service to be restored, so it was. "The people of New York will have their voices heard," the governor said.
Whenever protesters were blocked access to an area, they would begin banging on the walls of the terminal.
Approximately 20 people were detained at JFK by nightfall.
Most of the JFK detainees were Iranians — and some Iraqis and Yemenis — whose visas had been valid while they were in flight, attorneys said. However, the visas were thought to be voided as soon as Trump signed his order. These cases are likely a misapplication of Trump's order, but time will tell if there are amendments to make the corrections necessary.
Hundreds more protesters also gathered outside Brooklyn's federal courthouse Saturday evening, awaiting an expected announcement from court officials on the fate of the detainees.
At one point there were so many protesters arriving that AirTrain shuttles between terminals were halted "for public safety, due to crowding conditions.
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered the AirTrain service to be restored, so it was. "The people of New York will have their voices heard," the governor said.
Whenever protesters were blocked access to an area, they would begin banging on the walls of the terminal.
Approximately 20 people were detained at JFK by nightfall.
Most of the JFK detainees were Iranians — and some Iraqis and Yemenis — whose visas had been valid while they were in flight, attorneys said. However, the visas were thought to be voided as soon as Trump signed his order. These cases are likely a misapplication of Trump's order, but time will tell if there are amendments to make the corrections necessary.
Hundreds more protesters also gathered outside Brooklyn's federal courthouse Saturday evening, awaiting an expected announcement from court officials on the fate of the detainees.
At JFK, outside Terminal 4, protest chants included "Hey hey, JFK, no more fascist USA!"; "Hey hey, ho ho, the Muslim ban has got to go!"; and "No ban, no wall, Donald Trump has got to fall."
City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, chair of the council's immigration committee and a representative for Brooklyn's immigrant-heavy Sunset Park neighborhood, compared Trump's order to Nazism, saying outside the airport Saturday morning, "We will fight — we will stay until everyone is released. These are our families. They came for Jews, and they're coming for our Muslim brothers and sisters."
The difference was that the Jews were not the totalitarian Nazis. Islamic jihadists are worse than the German Nazis of the World War II era. Could you imagine if during the 1930s the people began to protest like this because the government banned Nazis from coming into the United States?
City Council Member Carlos Menchaca, chair of the council's immigration committee and a representative for Brooklyn's immigrant-heavy Sunset Park neighborhood, compared Trump's order to Nazism, saying outside the airport Saturday morning, "We will fight — we will stay until everyone is released. These are our families. They came for Jews, and they're coming for our Muslim brothers and sisters."
The difference was that the Jews were not the totalitarian Nazis. Islamic jihadists are worse than the German Nazis of the World War II era. Could you imagine if during the 1930s the people began to protest like this because the government banned Nazis from coming into the United States?
According to various reports, dozens more people have been detained at airports around the country.
U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler, one of the first politicians to show up to the airport Saturday, called Trump's anti-immigrant order "discriminatory" and "quite disgusting," and said it "goes against every ounce of our traditions."
Swarms of immigration attorneys circled like vultures and gathered at various U.S. airports to "help" travelers who have been detained.
Attorneys have not yet been able to determine the number of fliers detained, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are not allowing attorneys or families any communication with the detainees.
Some of the detained travelers included green card holders, tourists, people with children and people with medical problems, said one lawyer on the scene. These cases may be examples of the officials carrying out Trump's order being too exuberant in their duties, and may be a misapplication of the intent of the order. Time will tell.
The Los Angeles Times reported that one detained traveler was an Iranian woman who'd held a green card in the U.S. for five years and whose citizenship swearing-in ceremony is in two weeks. The woman has an 11-month-old child with her who is an American citizen. While the woman likely represents a minority of Muslims who want to come to America, we must be reminded that Trump's order may need some tweaking and clarification to avoid these kinds of misapplication of the order. However, we must also remember that a number of terrorist attacks in the United States were conducted by Muslims who were legally American citizens, and the claim by the Democrats that there have been no terrorist attacks by refugees from the countries listed on Trump's ban simply is not true.
After eight years of being unable to enforce immigration law and practice a "catch and return" policy, immigration agents are now free to act upon a new expansion of authority which represents a dramatic increase in efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants by the new Trump administration.
U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler, one of the first politicians to show up to the airport Saturday, called Trump's anti-immigrant order "discriminatory" and "quite disgusting," and said it "goes against every ounce of our traditions."
⏩ Taxi drivers strike...
New York taxi drivers also responded to President Donald Trump's executive order regarding persons coming from countries supporting terrorism, but rather than scream and flail like children, they simply went on strike.
New York taxi drivers also responded to President Donald Trump's executive order regarding persons coming from countries supporting terrorism, but rather than scream and flail like children, they simply went on strike.
In postings to social networks Saturday the New York Taxi Workers Alliance announced that from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET there would be no pickups at JFK as a protest to the immigration ban that some are taking as a ban on Muslims.
BREAKING: NYTWA drivers call for one hour work stoppage @ JFK airport today 6 PM to 7 PM to protest #muslimban! #nobannowall
1:55 PM - 28 Jan 2017
"We cannot be silent. We go to work to welcome people to a land that once welcomed us," wrote the union on Twitter. "We will not be divided."
"NO PICKUPS @ JFK Airport 6 PM to 7 PM today," the union wrote in a subsequent tweet that was retweeted over 10,000 times. "Drivers stand in solidarity with thousands protesting inhumane & unconstitutional #MuslimBan."
Additional tweets by the union and other Twitter users at the airport confirmed the empty cab lines.
No cabs in this line at JFK terminal 4. #NoBanNoWall#RefugeesWelcome
3:15 PM - 28 Jan 2017
What #jfk airport looks like right now. Thousands chanting #refugeeswelcome, @NYCLightBrigade holding lit signs with #nobannowall. Beautiful pic.twitter.com/1XicJ626Ho
The cab line at #JFK airport is empty. At 6pm, NYC taxi drivers went on strike in protest of #muslimban #refugeeban#nobannowall #letthemin pic.twitter.com/LXlygmADxI
3:23 PM - 28 Jan 2017
It remains to be seen how long the strike will last. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance did not immediately respond when asked by USA TODAY.
In response to the strike, Uber tweeted late Saturday that it would suspend surge pricing for rides to and from the popular airport.
Surge pricing has been turned off at #JFK Airport. This may result in longer wait times. Please be patient.
4:36 PM - 28 Jan 2017
⏩ Airlines Rushing to Comply...
President Trump's Friday executive order that temporarily bans the citizens of certain countries from coming to the U.S., and stops indefinitely the entry of Syrian refugees, has the airline industry scrambling.
BREAKING: NYTWA drivers call for one hour work stoppage @ JFK airport today 6 PM to 7 PM to protest #muslimban! #nobannowall
1:55 PM - 28 Jan 2017
"We cannot be silent. We go to work to welcome people to a land that once welcomed us," wrote the union on Twitter. "We will not be divided."
"NO PICKUPS @ JFK Airport 6 PM to 7 PM today," the union wrote in a subsequent tweet that was retweeted over 10,000 times. "Drivers stand in solidarity with thousands protesting inhumane & unconstitutional #MuslimBan."
Additional tweets by the union and other Twitter users at the airport confirmed the empty cab lines.
No cabs in this line at JFK terminal 4. #NoBanNoWall#RefugeesWelcome
3:15 PM - 28 Jan 2017
What #jfk airport looks like right now. Thousands chanting #refugeeswelcome, @NYCLightBrigade holding lit signs with #nobannowall. Beautiful pic.twitter.com/1XicJ626Ho
The cab line at #JFK airport is empty. At 6pm, NYC taxi drivers went on strike in protest of #muslimban #refugeeban#nobannowall #letthemin pic.twitter.com/LXlygmADxI
3:23 PM - 28 Jan 2017
It remains to be seen how long the strike will last. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance did not immediately respond when asked by USA TODAY.
In response to the strike, Uber tweeted late Saturday that it would suspend surge pricing for rides to and from the popular airport.
Surge pricing has been turned off at #JFK Airport. This may result in longer wait times. Please be patient.
4:36 PM - 28 Jan 2017
⏩ Airlines Rushing to Comply...
President Trump's Friday executive order that temporarily bans the citizens of certain countries from coming to the U.S., and stops indefinitely the entry of Syrian refugees, has the airline industry scrambling.
The travel ban is succinctly stated: “To protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States.” With immediate effect, it forbids entry for specified periods of time to citizens from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen).
Early reports on its application suggest that even long-time holders of multiyear visas for the U.S., together with green card holders and dual nationals, are are being refused entry at airports or being prevented from boarding planes destined for America. This includes people who have been living in the U.S. legally for many years, have been vetted, and are productive and integrated members of their local communities. While it is likely these cases of detainment or refusal of entry are misapplications of Trump's order, it may be possible that President Trump simply needs to amend his order for folks who have proven to be willing to comply with the intricacies of full American jurisdiction. But, as President Trump has indicated, how do we know if these folks have been properly vetted, and are not a threat to our national security? This is why he is calling for what he calls "extreme vetting."
Early reports on its application suggest that even long-time holders of multiyear visas for the U.S., together with green card holders and dual nationals, are are being refused entry at airports or being prevented from boarding planes destined for America. This includes people who have been living in the U.S. legally for many years, have been vetted, and are productive and integrated members of their local communities. While it is likely these cases of detainment or refusal of entry are misapplications of Trump's order, it may be possible that President Trump simply needs to amend his order for folks who have proven to be willing to comply with the intricacies of full American jurisdiction. But, as President Trump has indicated, how do we know if these folks have been properly vetted, and are not a threat to our national security? This is why he is calling for what he calls "extreme vetting."
⏩ EMIRATES changes pilot, crew rosters...
Emirates airline has changed pilot and flight attendant rosters on flights to the United States following the sudden U.S. travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, but it said U.S. flights continue to operate to schedule.
The world's largest long-haul carrier, who flies daily to 11 U.S. cities, has made "the necessary adjustments to our crewing, to comply with the latest requirements," an Emirates spokeswoman told Reuters by email on Sunday.
President Trump's ban, in addition to persons entering the country, applies to pilots and flight attendants from the seven countries listed, even though all flight crew who are not U.S. citizens already need a special visa to enter the country.
Another Emirates spokeswoman said the impact of the ban on operations would be minimal. The airline employs over 23,000 flight attendants and about four thousand pilots from around the world, including the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, an Etihad Airways spokesman said the airline has "taken steps to ensure there will be no issues for flights departing over the coming weeks."
Etihad said on its website that dual citizens could travel to the U.S. using their non-banned passport. IATA have told its members that the ban does not apply to dual nationals if they have a passport not on the list, according to an email seen by Reuters.
The Guardian is reporting, quoting State Department officials, that dual nationals were banned. Clarification from the White House, I am sure, is forthcoming.
Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways are both owned by the governments of the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally and Muslim-majority country.
Both carriers said they would continue to comply with the new rules on U.S. immigration but where possible would offer to refund or rebook affected passengers.
Qatar Airways declined to comment on the impact of the ban on flight operations, although on Saturday it issued a statement on its website that passengers would need a green card or diplomatic visa to enter the United States. Emirates and Etihad issued similar statements.
Emirates airline has changed pilot and flight attendant rosters on flights to the United States following the sudden U.S. travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, but it said U.S. flights continue to operate to schedule.
The world's largest long-haul carrier, who flies daily to 11 U.S. cities, has made "the necessary adjustments to our crewing, to comply with the latest requirements," an Emirates spokeswoman told Reuters by email on Sunday.
President Trump's ban, in addition to persons entering the country, applies to pilots and flight attendants from the seven countries listed, even though all flight crew who are not U.S. citizens already need a special visa to enter the country.
Another Emirates spokeswoman said the impact of the ban on operations would be minimal. The airline employs over 23,000 flight attendants and about four thousand pilots from around the world, including the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
Meanwhile, an Etihad Airways spokesman said the airline has "taken steps to ensure there will be no issues for flights departing over the coming weeks."
Etihad said on its website that dual citizens could travel to the U.S. using their non-banned passport. IATA have told its members that the ban does not apply to dual nationals if they have a passport not on the list, according to an email seen by Reuters.
The Guardian is reporting, quoting State Department officials, that dual nationals were banned. Clarification from the White House, I am sure, is forthcoming.
Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways are both owned by the governments of the United Arab Emirates, a U.S. ally and Muslim-majority country.
Both carriers said they would continue to comply with the new rules on U.S. immigration but where possible would offer to refund or rebook affected passengers.
Qatar Airways declined to comment on the impact of the ban on flight operations, although on Saturday it issued a statement on its website that passengers would need a green card or diplomatic visa to enter the United States. Emirates and Etihad issued similar statements.
Swarms of immigration attorneys circled like vultures and gathered at various U.S. airports to "help" travelers who have been detained.
Attorneys have not yet been able to determine the number of fliers detained, as U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are not allowing attorneys or families any communication with the detainees.
Some of the detained travelers included green card holders, tourists, people with children and people with medical problems, said one lawyer on the scene. These cases may be examples of the officials carrying out Trump's order being too exuberant in their duties, and may be a misapplication of the intent of the order. Time will tell.
The Los Angeles Times reported that one detained traveler was an Iranian woman who'd held a green card in the U.S. for five years and whose citizenship swearing-in ceremony is in two weeks. The woman has an 11-month-old child with her who is an American citizen. While the woman likely represents a minority of Muslims who want to come to America, we must be reminded that Trump's order may need some tweaking and clarification to avoid these kinds of misapplication of the order. However, we must also remember that a number of terrorist attacks in the United States were conducted by Muslims who were legally American citizens, and the claim by the Democrats that there have been no terrorist attacks by refugees from the countries listed on Trump's ban simply is not true.
⏩ SOROS FINANCES OPPOSITION...
The name that is most associated with the billions of dollars being pumped into international efforts to move the globe towards socialism and to destroy the ideals of the United States of America is left-wing billionaire George Soros. It turns out, as expected, that his money is largely behind the protests and heartstrings-grabbing news stories against President Trump’s executive action temporarily suspending “immigrants and non-immigrants” from "countries of particular concern.”
Rather than a complete "Muslim ban" as promised during the campaign, Trump's executive order contains moderate refugee restrictions, similar to those that have been implemented by President Obama. If reports are true that restrictions are being applied even to green-card holders, that is an unfortunate misapplication of the law that will likely soon be corrected.
According to Breitbart's Aaron Klein, the signatories to a lawsuit filed Saturday to block Trump’s executive order included immigration lawyers from groups financed by Soros.
At least one case quickly prompted a legal challenge as lawyers representing two Iraqi refugees held at Kennedy International Airport in New York filed a motion early Saturday seeking to have their clients released. They also filed a motion for class certification, in an effort to represent all refugees and other immigrants who they said were being unlawfully detained at ports of entry.
The suit was filed by lawyers from the International Refugee Assistance Project, the National Immigration Law Center, the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the International Refugee Assistance Project (formerly Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project) at the Urban Justice Center.
The ACLU is massively funded by Soros’s Open Society Foundations, including with a $50 million grant in 2014.
The National Immigration Law Center has received numerous Open Society grants earmarked for general support.
The Urban Justice Center is also the recipient of an Open Society grant.
Taryn Higashi, executive director of the Center’s International Refugee Assistance Project, which is listed on the Trump lawsuit, currently serves on the Advisory Board of the International Migration Initiative of Soros’s Open Society Foundations.
Reportedly, open-borders advocate Soros has provided some $76 million for immigrant issues over the past decade, as Soros-funded “immigrant rights groups” helped influence President Obama’s immigration policy.
The name that is most associated with the billions of dollars being pumped into international efforts to move the globe towards socialism and to destroy the ideals of the United States of America is left-wing billionaire George Soros. It turns out, as expected, that his money is largely behind the protests and heartstrings-grabbing news stories against President Trump’s executive action temporarily suspending “immigrants and non-immigrants” from "countries of particular concern.”
Rather than a complete "Muslim ban" as promised during the campaign, Trump's executive order contains moderate refugee restrictions, similar to those that have been implemented by President Obama. If reports are true that restrictions are being applied even to green-card holders, that is an unfortunate misapplication of the law that will likely soon be corrected.
According to Breitbart's Aaron Klein, the signatories to a lawsuit filed Saturday to block Trump’s executive order included immigration lawyers from groups financed by Soros.
At least one case quickly prompted a legal challenge as lawyers representing two Iraqi refugees held at Kennedy International Airport in New York filed a motion early Saturday seeking to have their clients released. They also filed a motion for class certification, in an effort to represent all refugees and other immigrants who they said were being unlawfully detained at ports of entry.
The suit was filed by lawyers from the International Refugee Assistance Project, the National Immigration Law Center, the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the International Refugee Assistance Project (formerly Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project) at the Urban Justice Center.
The ACLU is massively funded by Soros’s Open Society Foundations, including with a $50 million grant in 2014.
The National Immigration Law Center has received numerous Open Society grants earmarked for general support.
The Urban Justice Center is also the recipient of an Open Society grant.
Taryn Higashi, executive director of the Center’s International Refugee Assistance Project, which is listed on the Trump lawsuit, currently serves on the Advisory Board of the International Migration Initiative of Soros’s Open Society Foundations.
Reportedly, open-borders advocate Soros has provided some $76 million for immigrant issues over the past decade, as Soros-funded “immigrant rights groups” helped influence President Obama’s immigration policy.
The new Trump immigration executive order lays out a series of categories of undocumented immigrants that immigration law enforcement officials should prioritize for removing from the country.
The Obama administration had prioritized expulsion of undocumented immigrants who threatened public safety or national security, had ties to criminal gang activity, committed serious felony offenses or were habitual misdemeanor criminal offenders. Trump's order goes far beyond that, using a sweeping definition of "criminal" and giving a single immigration officer the ability to make judgments on threats to public safety.
While Trump's order attempts to reduce the number of immigrants that may be considered a threat to national security, Trump says the U.S. will prioritize Christian refugees, and instead focus on removing deportable immigrants who "have been convicted of any criminal offense; have been charged with any criminal offense, where such charge has not been resolved; have committed acts that constitute a chargeable criminal offense; have engaged in fraud or willful misrepresentation in connection with any official matter or application before a governmental agency; have abused any program related to receipt of public benefits; are subject to a final order of removal, but who have not complied with their legal obligation to depart the United States; or in the judgment of an immigration officer, otherwise pose a risk to public safety or national security."
Trump states he plans to focus on removing "bad dudes," but there are fears that his sweeping executive order would seemingly allow for anyone to be detained for removal proceedings, even if they have only been suspected of committing a crime, including misdemeanors, or of being a threat.
"I think it covers just about every illegal alien in the country," said Hans von Spakovsky, a legal expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, which has been strongly influential on Trump's policy. "It's also very clear that the No. 1 priority is people who have been charged and convicted with criminal offenses, and that's the kind of violent criminals who should be out of the country."
The union that represents ICE agents endorsed Trump during the campaign, offering harsh criticism of Obama's enforcement priorities. Under the past administration, officers were "unable to arrest or are forced to release many of the most dangerous (criminals) back into U.S. communities due to unscrupulous political agendas and corrupt leaders," National ICE Council President Chris Crane said in a statement about the endorsement.
The new enforcement priorities, and the additional 10,000 immigration officers prescribed by the orders, are presumably designed to give ICE what it wants -- more authority.
President Trump's immigration policies regarding stronger enforcement of U.S. immigration laws and the decision to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and stop the free flow of refugees until they can be vetted better is reviving the morale of customs and border agents.
"Morale amongst our agents and officers has increased exponentially," said a joint statement from the National Border Patrol Council and National ICE Council.
"The men and women of ICE and Border Patrol will work tirelessly to keep criminals, terrorists, and public safety threats out of this country, which remains the number one target in the world – and President Trump's actions now empower us to fulfill this life saving mission, and it will indeed save thousands of lives and billions of dollars," it added.
The statement on behalf of the agents for the immigration, customs and border protection was a powerful endorsement of Trump's action as he his under fire from critics of his actions.
Joint Press Release Between Border Patrol and ICE Councils
As representatives of the nation's Frontline immigration officers and agents responsible for enforcing our laws and protecting our borders, we fully support and appreciate President Trump's swift and decisive action to keep the American people safe and allow law enforcement to do its job. We applaud the three executive orders he has issued to date, and are confident they will make America safer and more prosperous. Morale amongst our agents and officers has increased exponentially since the signing of the orders. The men and women of ICE and Border Patrol will work tirelessly to keep criminals, terrorists, and public safety threats out of this country, which remains the number one target in the world – and President Trump's actions now empower us to fulfill this life saving mission, and it will indeed save thousands of lives and billions of dollars.
Are we once again seeing a misapplication of Trump's executive order? Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, who wrote and directed the 2017 Oscar-nominated foreign language film “The Salesman,” would not be able to enter the U.S. for the awards under President Donald Trump’s recently enacted travel ban, according to reports on Saturday.
Trump signed the executive order on Friday afternoon to suspend entry of refugees to the U.S. for 120 days, and imposed an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria. A 90-day ban was also placed on citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The 2017 Oscars will take place on Feb. 26.
Trump signed the executive order on Friday afternoon to suspend entry of refugees to the U.S. for 120 days, and imposed an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria. A 90-day ban was also placed on citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The 2017 Oscars will take place on Feb. 26.
⏩ Tehran vows retaliation...
Iran has vowed to stop U.S. citizens from entering their country in retaliation to Washington's visa ban against Tehran and six other majority-Muslim countries.
"While respecting the American people and distinguishing between them and the hostile policies of the U.S. government, Iran will implement the principle of reciprocity until the offensive U.S. limitations against Iranian nationals are lifted," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
"The restrictions against travel by Muslims to America... are an open affront against the Muslim world and the Iranian nation in particular and will be known as a great gift to extremists," said the statement, carried by state media.
Note, Trump's order does not use the word "Muslim," but its list of seven countries are all Muslim-dominated nations.
Iran has vowed to stop U.S. citizens from entering their country in retaliation to Washington's visa ban against Tehran and six other majority-Muslim countries.
"While respecting the American people and distinguishing between them and the hostile policies of the U.S. government, Iran will implement the principle of reciprocity until the offensive U.S. limitations against Iranian nationals are lifted," a Foreign Ministry statement said.
"The restrictions against travel by Muslims to America... are an open affront against the Muslim world and the Iranian nation in particular and will be known as a great gift to extremists," said the statement, carried by state media.
Note, Trump's order does not use the word "Muslim," but its list of seven countries are all Muslim-dominated nations.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said it was no time to build walls between nations and criticized steps towards cancelling world trade agreements, without naming Trump.
"Today is not the time to erect walls between nations. They have forgotten that the Berlin wall fell years ago," Rouhani said in a speech carried live on Iranian state television.
"To annul world trade accords does not help their economy and does not serve the development and blooming of the world economy," Rouhani told a tourism conference in Tehran. "This is the day for the world to get closer through trade."
Trump also formally withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal on Monday, fulfilling a campaign pledge to end American involvement in the 2015 pact many believe to be a step towards globalism and a one-world government through United Nations dictates.
"Today is not the time to erect walls between nations. They have forgotten that the Berlin wall fell years ago," Rouhani said in a speech carried live on Iranian state television.
"To annul world trade accords does not help their economy and does not serve the development and blooming of the world economy," Rouhani told a tourism conference in Tehran. "This is the day for the world to get closer through trade."
Trump also formally withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal on Monday, fulfilling a campaign pledge to end American involvement in the 2015 pact many believe to be a step towards globalism and a one-world government through United Nations dictates.
Alphabet Inc.’s Google asked staffers who may have been affected by a new executive order on immigration to return to the U.S. quickly, joining a growing number of technology executives voicing concerns over restrictions that could interfere with how they do business.
Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai states more than 100 company staff had been affected by the order. Microsoft Corp. said it was in touch with 76 staffers from the seven countries identified in the executive order.
“It’s painful to see the personal cost of this executive order on our colleagues,” Pichai wrote in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by Bloomberg News. “We’ve always made our view on immigration issues known publicly and will continue to do so.”
Uber had about a dozen staffers affected by the order, as well as a number of drivers.
Trump signed the executive order on Friday prohibiting entry by people from seven majority-Muslim nations for 90 days. Citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen would be banned from entering the U.S. for the period, while the government determines what information it needs to safely admit visitors.
In a likely misapplication of the order, some visa and green-card holders were blocked from boarding flights to the U.S. after the order was issued.
“We’re concerned about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that create barriers to bringing great talent to the U.S.,” a Google spokeswoman said in a statement. “We’ll continue to make our views on these issues known to leaders in Washington and elsewhere.”
Some Google employees were traveling abroad and were trying to get back to the U.S. before the order took effect. The company asked them to reach out to Google’s security, travel, and immigration teams for assistance, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person asked not to be identified talking about internal company communications.
Google declined to say Saturday whether any employees were detained or blocked from boarding flights.
The employees in question normally work in the U.S. but just happened to be abroad either on work assignments or vacations. One employee rushed back from a trip to New Zealand to make it into the U.S. before the order was signed, Google’s Pichai wrote in his memo.
“We are advising our clients from those seven countries who have green cards or any type of H-1B visa not to travel outside the U.S.,” said Ava Benach, a partner at immigration law firm Benach Collopy LLP, while noting that the order takes effect immediately.
“No one is really sure whether a green card holder from these seven countries can return to the U.S. now. It’s fairly clear that an H-1B visa holder can’t,” Benach said. The H-1B lets U.S. companies employ graduate-level workers from other countries in technical occupations such as technology, engineering and science.
“If anyone in these situations has the misfortune to have gone abroad recently, it’s a treacherous moment, possibly for green card holders too,” Benach said.
Other technology companies are likely in a similar situation, she added.
Microsoft Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith said in a memo to staff Saturday that the company is working with affected personnel and that it supports immigration policies that “protect the public without sacrificing people’s freedom of expression or religion.”
Microsoft also affirms “the importance of protecting legitimate and law-abiding refugees whose very lives may be at stake in immigration proceedings,” Smith wrote.
Immigration restrictions “may inhibit our ability to adequately staff our research and development efforts,” Microsoft said in a securities filing on Thursday.
Facebook’s Zuckerberg said Friday he was “concerned” by Trump’s recent moves to restrict immigration.
A blanket entry ban “is not the best way to address the country’s challenges,” Tesla Motors Inc. CEO Elon Musk said Saturday on Twitter.
“Many people negatively affected by this policy are strong supporters of the U.S.,” Musk wrote. “They’ve done right, not wrong and don’t deserve to be rejected.” In a separate statement, Tesla added: “We hope that this temporary action by the administration transitions to a fair and thoughtful long-term policy.”
American technology companies use skilled engineers from overseas to help in the creation of their products, and are concerned that the order by Trump may hinder their ability to tap into the technical talent worldwide they need to remain competitive.
The technology industry, as a result, relies heavily on the H-1B visa program. The program enables highly skilled workers to be permitted to work in the United States for large companies like Google, Intel, and Microsoft.
A draft of another order calls for a regulation to "restore the integrity of employment-based nonimmigrant worker programs" and to consider options for modifying the H-1B program to "ensure that beneficiaries of the program are the best and the brightest."
The language has the Silicon Sultans rattled because of the implication of sweeping changes.
The big question has been if the order includes people who are here on green cards, legally.
Microsoft has issued a statement saying, "Changes to U.S. immigration policies that restrain the flow of technical and professional talent may inhibit our ability to adequately staff our research and development efforts."
Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Facebook, stated, "We are a nation of immigrants, and we all benefit when the best and the brightest from around the world can live, work and contribute here. I hope we find the courage and compassion to bring people together to make this world a better place for everyone."
The technology industry has voiced they are open to changes that have been proposed by some members of Congress to better enforce the skilled worker program and adjust limits on the number of visas. But the companies see skilled worker visas as a signature policy issue that they have fought to protect and expand.
Robert D. Atkinson, president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, states the effect of Trump's immigration actions will be the opposite of what the President wants, sending companies "offshore like Microsoft did with Vancouver, Canada."
The Motion Picture Academy issued a statement calling Trump’s action “extremely troubling” and noted that “Asghar Farhadi, the director of the Oscar-winning film from Iran ‘A Separation,’ along with the cast and crew of this year’s Oscar-nominated film ‘The Salesman,’ could be barred from entering the country because of their religion or country of origin.”
“Trump’s #MuslimBan is against the law,” “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon tweeted Saturday. “The 1965 Immigration & Naturalization Act eliminated national origins as a basis for immigration.”
Actually, Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution allows Congress to write legislation prohibiting persons they believe should be prohibited, regardless of the reason. The reality is, however, that though there is no restriction on who can be prohibited, executive orders are supposed to instruct regulatory agencies regarding existing law, so the question is whether or not Trump's order overstepped Congress. As for the 1865 Immigration & Naturalization Act, Congress simply needs to either amend that law, or replace it after it is repealed.
Actor Seth Rogen urged his more than 5 million Twitter followers to join a demonstration outside downtown L.A.’s federal immigration office, adding a link to the event’s Facebook page and tweeting the hashtag #MuslimBan.
New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch called for an all-out Oscar boycott. “All of Hollywood should skip the Oscars out of solidarity until the ban is lifted,” Gourevitch tweeted.
Journalists are not taking the news of President Donald Trump’s executive order pausing admission of refugees from seven nations very well. Many have taken to social media to express outrage over Trump’s action, forgetting former President Barack Obama did the same thing to Iraqi refugees for six months in 2011.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan - the first Muslim mayor of a major western city - has demanded Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK is cancelled.
He told Sky News: "I am quite clear, this ban is cruel, this ban is shameful, while this ban is in place we should not be rolling out the red carpet for President Trump.
"I don't think he should be coming on a state visit while the ban is in place, I couldn't be clearer."
He said the ban "flies in the face of the values" the US was built on.
He added: "I'm pleased that the Prime Minister has now said she and the Government do not agree with President Trump's policy, which will affect many British citizens who have dual nationality, including Londoners born in countries affected by the ban.
"I will work with the Government on behalf of Londoners affected."
New Yorker writer Philip Gourevitch called for an all-out Oscar boycott. “All of Hollywood should skip the Oscars out of solidarity until the ban is lifted,” Gourevitch tweeted.
Journalists are not taking the news of President Donald Trump’s executive order pausing admission of refugees from seven nations very well. Many have taken to social media to express outrage over Trump’s action, forgetting former President Barack Obama did the same thing to Iraqi refugees for six months in 2011.
⏩ Merkel Meddles...
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told U.S. President Donald Trump that the global fight against terrorism was no excuse for banning refugees or people from Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, her spokesman said on Sunday.
"We are determined to protect the rights of our citizens and will take rapid action within the European Union about the steps that are now needed," Germany's Sigmar Gabriel and his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders said.
Seibert's comments were the first indication of discord over the issue between Merkel and Trump, who had highlighted common interests such as strengthening NATO and combating Islamist militancy in a joint statement after their 45-minute phone call.
Thomas Oppermann, who heads the parliamentary faction of the Social Democrats, the junior partner in Merkel's right-center coalition, called Trump's order "inhumane and foolhardy" and said it would result in significant damage to the U.S. economy.
"The order contradicts everything that makes up the United States' good reputation as a country of immigration," he told Die Welt newspaper. "No one should be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs."
Omid Nouripour, a Green party lawmaker who is vice-chair of the German-American parliamentary group and a German-Iranian dual national, said the new U.S. rule was a "dirty symbolic gesture that would hurt hundreds of thousands of people".
"The German government must stand up for the over 100,000 German citizens who are affected by the order," Nouripour told Reuters. He said Trump had not included Saudi Arabia in the order because of his strong business ties there.
Niema Movassat, a Left party lawmaker who also has German and Iranian citizenship, told the Tageszeitung newspaper that the ban would prevent him from visiting the United Nations to work on development issues and from visiting his relatives.
Dieter Janecek, economic spokesman for the Greens in parliament, said Germany should consider a travel ban on Trump and his senior adviser Stephen Bannon unless the order was rescinded.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told U.S. President Donald Trump that the global fight against terrorism was no excuse for banning refugees or people from Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, her spokesman said on Sunday.
"We are determined to protect the rights of our citizens and will take rapid action within the European Union about the steps that are now needed," Germany's Sigmar Gabriel and his Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders said.
Seibert's comments were the first indication of discord over the issue between Merkel and Trump, who had highlighted common interests such as strengthening NATO and combating Islamist militancy in a joint statement after their 45-minute phone call.
Thomas Oppermann, who heads the parliamentary faction of the Social Democrats, the junior partner in Merkel's right-center coalition, called Trump's order "inhumane and foolhardy" and said it would result in significant damage to the U.S. economy.
"The order contradicts everything that makes up the United States' good reputation as a country of immigration," he told Die Welt newspaper. "No one should be discriminated against because of their religious beliefs."
Omid Nouripour, a Green party lawmaker who is vice-chair of the German-American parliamentary group and a German-Iranian dual national, said the new U.S. rule was a "dirty symbolic gesture that would hurt hundreds of thousands of people".
"The German government must stand up for the over 100,000 German citizens who are affected by the order," Nouripour told Reuters. He said Trump had not included Saudi Arabia in the order because of his strong business ties there.
Niema Movassat, a Left party lawmaker who also has German and Iranian citizenship, told the Tageszeitung newspaper that the ban would prevent him from visiting the United Nations to work on development issues and from visiting his relatives.
Dieter Janecek, economic spokesman for the Greens in parliament, said Germany should consider a travel ban on Trump and his senior adviser Stephen Bannon unless the order was rescinded.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan - the first Muslim mayor of a major western city - has demanded Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK is cancelled.
He told Sky News: "I am quite clear, this ban is cruel, this ban is shameful, while this ban is in place we should not be rolling out the red carpet for President Trump.
"I don't think he should be coming on a state visit while the ban is in place, I couldn't be clearer."
He said the ban "flies in the face of the values" the US was built on.
He added: "I'm pleased that the Prime Minister has now said she and the Government do not agree with President Trump's policy, which will affect many British citizens who have dual nationality, including Londoners born in countries affected by the ban.
"I will work with the Government on behalf of Londoners affected."
Theresa May is under increasing pressure to send a clear and firm message to Trump that Britain condemns the ban.
A quarter of a million people have signed a Government petition calling for the visit to be cancelled.
And the Prime Minister was yesterday criticised for not condemning the new rules but a spokesman later said she "does not agree" with the so called Muslim ban.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Donald Trump should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values with his shameful Muslim ban and attacks on refugees' and women's rights.
"Theresa May would be failing the British people if she does not postpone the state visit and condemn Tump's actions in the clearest terms. That's what Britain expects and deserves."
After immigration agents detained two Iraqis on Saturday at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, their lawyers and two U.S. lawmakers accompanying them tried to cross into a secure area to consult with the men.
Border protection agents held them back, sparking a heated exchange.
"Step back! Step back!" the agents shouted.
A few minutes later, Heidi Nassauer, chief of passenger operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the airport, was called over.
U.S. Congress members Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez, both Democrats from New York, wanted clarification on whether an immigration ban issued on Friday by President Donald Trump prevented the Iraqis from consulting with attorneys.
Nassauer had no clear answer.
"We are as much in the dark as everybody else," said the border protection official at one of the largest U.S. airports.
A senior administration official said Trump's order - aimed at citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - needed to be implemented urgently to protect Americans.
"There's a very strong nexus between our immigration and visa programs and terrorist plots and extremist networks inside the United States," the official told reporters in a briefing. "It would be reckless and irresponsible to ... broadcast to the entire world the exact security measures you're going to take."
A Trump administration official told reporters that U.S. green card holders traveling outside the United States need to check with a U.S. consulate to see whether they can return.
"It's being cleared on a case-by-case basis,” the official said.
"The executive order doesn't affect green card holders moving forward," White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus addressed told NBC's "Meet the Press." He added that they would be subjected to extra questioning by CBP agents when they tried to re-enter the United States.
A senior administration official told Reuters, however, that it had not been determined where and how those screenings would be carried out. The nature of the screening will be up to CBP or the State Department, the official said, and specific guidelines were being drafted.
"They could be screened in many different ways and in many different places," the official said in an interview.
With the federal government and most states controlled by conservative Republicans this year, Democrats are looking to Democratic cities and counties to stand up for progressive policy.
But they may want to temper their expectations. State lawmakers have blocked city action on a range of economic, environmental and human rights issues, including liberal priorities such as minimum wage increases, in recent years. And the stage looks set for more confrontation between cities and states this year.
⏩ Canada's Trudeau welcomes refugees; U.S.-bound passengers turned away...
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
A quarter of a million people have signed a Government petition calling for the visit to be cancelled.
And the Prime Minister was yesterday criticised for not condemning the new rules but a spokesman later said she "does not agree" with the so called Muslim ban.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Donald Trump should not be welcomed to Britain while he abuses our shared values with his shameful Muslim ban and attacks on refugees' and women's rights.
"Theresa May would be failing the British people if she does not postpone the state visit and condemn Tump's actions in the clearest terms. That's what Britain expects and deserves."
⏩ Customs agents ignore judge, enforce travel ban...
The ACLU is getting “multiple reports” that federal customs agents are siding with President Trump — and willfully ignoring a Brooklyn federal judge’s demand that travelers from seven Muslim countries not be deported from the nation’s airports.
“The court’s order could not be clearer… they need to comply with the order,” Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants Rights project, told The Post late Saturday.
“It’s enough to be a serious concern,” Jadwat said of the reports.
Jadwat and other ACLU lawyers had earlier Saturday night won an emergency stay of Trump’s deportation order from Brooklyn Federal Judge Ann Donnelly.
Let us not forget about when Obama ignored the courts regarding immigration.
⏩ BORDER BLITZ SPARKS CHAOS
The ACLU is getting “multiple reports” that federal customs agents are siding with President Trump — and willfully ignoring a Brooklyn federal judge’s demand that travelers from seven Muslim countries not be deported from the nation’s airports.
“The court’s order could not be clearer… they need to comply with the order,” Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants Rights project, told The Post late Saturday.
“It’s enough to be a serious concern,” Jadwat said of the reports.
Jadwat and other ACLU lawyers had earlier Saturday night won an emergency stay of Trump’s deportation order from Brooklyn Federal Judge Ann Donnelly.
Let us not forget about when Obama ignored the courts regarding immigration.
⏩ BORDER BLITZ SPARKS CHAOS
After immigration agents detained two Iraqis on Saturday at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, their lawyers and two U.S. lawmakers accompanying them tried to cross into a secure area to consult with the men.
Border protection agents held them back, sparking a heated exchange.
"Step back! Step back!" the agents shouted.
A few minutes later, Heidi Nassauer, chief of passenger operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the airport, was called over.
U.S. Congress members Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez, both Democrats from New York, wanted clarification on whether an immigration ban issued on Friday by President Donald Trump prevented the Iraqis from consulting with attorneys.
Nassauer had no clear answer.
"We are as much in the dark as everybody else," said the border protection official at one of the largest U.S. airports.
A senior administration official said Trump's order - aimed at citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - needed to be implemented urgently to protect Americans.
"There's a very strong nexus between our immigration and visa programs and terrorist plots and extremist networks inside the United States," the official told reporters in a briefing. "It would be reckless and irresponsible to ... broadcast to the entire world the exact security measures you're going to take."
A Trump administration official told reporters that U.S. green card holders traveling outside the United States need to check with a U.S. consulate to see whether they can return.
"It's being cleared on a case-by-case basis,” the official said.
"The executive order doesn't affect green card holders moving forward," White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus addressed told NBC's "Meet the Press." He added that they would be subjected to extra questioning by CBP agents when they tried to re-enter the United States.
A senior administration official told Reuters, however, that it had not been determined where and how those screenings would be carried out. The nature of the screening will be up to CBP or the State Department, the official said, and specific guidelines were being drafted.
"They could be screened in many different ways and in many different places," the official said in an interview.
A federal judge in Brooklyn blocked part of the president's actions, preventing the government from deporting some arrivals who found themselves ensnared by the presidential order. But, it stopped short of letting them into the country or issuing a broader ruling on the constitutionality of Mr. Trump's actions. Lawyers sued the government to block the White House order. Hundreds of people waited outside the courthouse chanting, "Set them free!"
With the federal government and most states controlled by conservative Republicans this year, Democrats are looking to Democratic cities and counties to stand up for progressive policy.
But they may want to temper their expectations. State lawmakers have blocked city action on a range of economic, environmental and human rights issues, including liberal priorities such as minimum wage increases, in recent years. And the stage looks set for more confrontation between cities and states this year.
⏩ UPDATE: Sanctuary Sheriff Faces Removal For Aiding Criminal Illegals...
Travis Co. Sheriff Sally Hernandez is facing removal from office after defying Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s call to end “sanctuary city” policies which aid criminal aliens.
Hernandez, whose jurisdiction includes Austin, the capital of Texas, has rejected Abbott’s request to reverse her refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement except in limited circumstances, which Abbott says is hypocritical.
“First, you claim you have no legal power to comply with ICE detainers. That proves too much, of course, because by your own admission, Travis County Sheriff’s Office will honor some ICE detainers, for example when the alien is charged with or convicted of capital murder,” Abbott wrote. “You have the exact same legal authority to honor ICE detainers for capital murder cases as you do for other crimes that you personally deem unworthy of enforcement.”
In addition, Abbott pointed out that ICE also issues detainers for illegal aliens with felony records – including murder.
“…Under your reckless policy, for example, dangerous criminal aliens convicted of felonies like murder, aggravated assault, human trafficking, including child sex trafficking, aggravated kidnapping, including sexual performance by a child or indecency with a child, dangerous gang activities…,” he added.
But in response, Hernandez declared that honoring the detainers would make the “community less safe by driving people into the shadows.”
⏩ California Threat to Cut Funds to Feds...
The state of California is studying ways to suspend financial transfers to Washington after the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal money from sanctuary cities.
Officials are looking for money that flows through Sacramento to the federal government that could be used to offset the potential loss of billions of dollars’ worth of federal funds if President Trump makes good on his threat to punish cities and states that don’t cooperate with federal agents’ requests to turn over undocumented immigrants, a senior government source in Sacramento said.
The federal funds pay for a variety of state and local programs from law enforcement to homeless shelters.
“California could very well become an organized non-payer,” said Willie Brown, Jr, a former speaker of the state Assembly. “They could recommend non-compliance with the federal tax code.”
Travis Co. Sheriff Sally Hernandez is facing removal from office after defying Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s call to end “sanctuary city” policies which aid criminal aliens.
Hernandez, whose jurisdiction includes Austin, the capital of Texas, has rejected Abbott’s request to reverse her refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement except in limited circumstances, which Abbott says is hypocritical.
“First, you claim you have no legal power to comply with ICE detainers. That proves too much, of course, because by your own admission, Travis County Sheriff’s Office will honor some ICE detainers, for example when the alien is charged with or convicted of capital murder,” Abbott wrote. “You have the exact same legal authority to honor ICE detainers for capital murder cases as you do for other crimes that you personally deem unworthy of enforcement.”
In addition, Abbott pointed out that ICE also issues detainers for illegal aliens with felony records – including murder.
“…Under your reckless policy, for example, dangerous criminal aliens convicted of felonies like murder, aggravated assault, human trafficking, including child sex trafficking, aggravated kidnapping, including sexual performance by a child or indecency with a child, dangerous gang activities…,” he added.
But in response, Hernandez declared that honoring the detainers would make the “community less safe by driving people into the shadows.”
⏩ California Threat to Cut Funds to Feds...
The state of California is studying ways to suspend financial transfers to Washington after the Trump administration threatened to withhold federal money from sanctuary cities.
Officials are looking for money that flows through Sacramento to the federal government that could be used to offset the potential loss of billions of dollars’ worth of federal funds if President Trump makes good on his threat to punish cities and states that don’t cooperate with federal agents’ requests to turn over undocumented immigrants, a senior government source in Sacramento said.
The federal funds pay for a variety of state and local programs from law enforcement to homeless shelters.
“California could very well become an organized non-payer,” said Willie Brown, Jr, a former speaker of the state Assembly. “They could recommend non-compliance with the federal tax code.”
The money flows both ways. Let's see how well California does when the federal government cuts the flow of money coming from the other direction.
⏩ Canada's Trudeau welcomes refugees; U.S.-bound passengers turned away...
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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