Letter to Bill Schuette, Attorney General of Michigan - Challenge President Trump's Executive Order on Refugees

Letter

Attorney General Schuette:

As members of Michigan's congressional delegation, we are extremely concerned with your silence on President Trump's recent executive order regarding the detention of refugees and immigrants entering this country from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia.

This overly broad Muslim ban not only impacts previously admitted individuals and refugees fleeing from war, but also those who are legal permanent residents of the United States. This executive order does nothing to increase the safety of our country; counterterrorism officials have actually said that such an across-the-board ban could make America less safe. It is a thinly veiled attempt to create a religious ban that is a clear violation of the principles our country was founded upon, including religious freedom.

You have sworn an oath to not only support and defend the U.S. Constitution, but also the Constitution of the state of Michigan. Article I, Section 2, of the Michigan Constitution states that no person shall "be denied the enjoyment of his civil or political rights or be discriminated against in the exercise thereof because of religion, race, color or national origin." The executive order is in clear violation of this principle.

The people of Michigan deserve to know that they will not be subject to arbitrary detention and deportation merely based on their religion. As Attorney General, you must speak out and use your office to challenge President Trump's executive order, which is a clear violation of constitutional rights of your constituents.

Dan Kildee

John Conyers

Sander Levin

Brenda Lawrence

Debbie Dingell