Press Release

Today, Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), the Vice-Ranking Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the President signed a second executive order affecting immigrants and refugees from Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, and Iran.

"My job is to keep our country safe, and this kind of ban on travel does not enhance our national security -- in fact it makes us less safe. As Americans, it is not who we are to turn our backs on people who are fleeing persecution.

This is a bad second attempt at an executive order that is just as un-American and xenophobic as the first version that was struck down by multiple courts.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing issues or has concerns because of this executive order, my office is here to help. Contact us at bera.house.gov or (916) 635-0505."

Bera, along with other members of Congress, introduced the SOLVE Act to block a previous executive order, announced Jan. 27, that affected travelers from Iraq, in addition to Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, and Iran, and took effect immediately after it was signed.

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