(Washington, D.C., 1/27/2017): The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of several leading national and local Muslim organizations and institutions, expressed concern over President Trump’s executive order to ban Muslim visitors, immigrants, and refugees from entering the United States.
The draft order calls for an immediate halt to resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States until further notice, and a 30 day halt on all issued immigrant and visitor visas from Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Iran, Libya and Sudan. It does not take into consideration the status of the individual or whether or not they have US relatives, effectively dividing families, especially those who are seeking entry under refugee status.
In a statement earlier today, USCMO Secretary General Oussama Jammal said: “What this executive order amounts to is a “Muslim ban” on nationals who are trying to escape the same extremism and violence that Mr. Trump is claiming to protect the country from, particularly Syrian refugees who view their visas as a ticket to safety. These refugees in particular have gone through a very rigorous vetting process that can range from months to years- taking away their light at the end of the tunnel is not only inhumane, it’s unAmerican.”
USCMO calls on elected officials to reject the anti-Muslim rhetoric touted by the Trump administration in the name of national security. USCMO also calls on all Americans to reject efforts to divide our great nation through labels and fear mongering.
