Congressman Sherman: Fire Bannon for Barring Permanent Residents

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brad Sherman released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban that was signed on January 27, 2017:

The President's executive order on travel and the refugee program is largely unconstitutional, immoral, and is ineffective.

What is particularly outrageous is that the order was applied to people who are legal permanent residents of the United States, commonly called "green card holders." The order was drafted in such a way that it could, but need not, be read to apply to these people, many of whom have been in the United States for years, have already been vetted, have jobs, businesses, families, and lives in the United States.

When officials at the DHS wisely decided that it should not be applied to green card holders, they were reportedly overruled by presidential advisor Steve Bannon. Unless the well-documented reports[1] are untrue, Bannon should be fired.

I also call on the appropriate committees to hold hearings on this fiasco and for legislative action to reverse the executive order, even if it faces a veto.

While last night the DHS stated that the order will no longer apply to legal permanent residents and that those people will be allowed into the country, many had been detained at airports over the weekend for as many as 20 hours, and not provided access to counsel. Many others decided not to travel back to the U.S. given the uncertain welcome that awaited them. So Bannon's decision was even more extreme than current Trump administration policy.

Most people working on counterterrorism policy inside and out of our government would never recommend this bar on visitors or immigrants from the listed countries, or for suspending the refugee program. This is purely a political move designed to appeal to some of the worst instincts in our country. It is also a propaganda gift to our real adversaries.

We should remember that this poorly worded and hastily implemented order has aggrieved many people residing legally in the United States, including U.S. citizens, not just the intended visitors and immigrants; U.S.-based family members who have worked to obtain permission for their loved ones to come to the United States will be separated from them for many more weeks and months.

But the decision to apply the ban to legal permanent residents accused of no criminal activity is beyond all limits. This was Bannon's decision and he needs to go."