Taking a Closer Look at Trump’s Entry Ban
February 23, 2017
President Donald Trump recently banned citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from coming into the United States. President Trump also declined to allow Syrian Refugees to gain entry to the U.S.
In Politico Magazine, Corey Brettschneider states that the ban and his shift in policy has left many people upset and has caused a great panic among the Muslim community. The ban has affected marriages, kept many students from starting school, and caused parents and teachers to become nervous about the future of their students.
Some critics argue that the ban is unconstitutional, because it goes against the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause. According to Politico Magazine, the clause is part of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution; which states that the government cannot reject anyone in its authority, the same protection of the laws.
Brettschneider of Politico Magazine points out that this ban also goes against the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.This clause prevents the government from instituting an official religion. The Fifth Amendment, which provides the right of due process, has also been infringed upon by the ban.
It is clear in these policies that President Trump is trying to keep people from countries whose citizens mainly practice Islam out of the United States. He has openly expressed a his disfavor of Muslims and has shown a complete lack of compassion for refugees, which was apparent throughout his campaign and now his presidency.
Many people have responded to President Trump’s ban. In The Guardian, Alan Yuhas and Mazin Sidahmed claim that the results of the ban have included protests, support for travelers arriving at airports from the affected countries, and several lawsuits. One important area that has been affected is Silicon Valley, including about two-hundred Google employees who have been directly affected by the ban. Additionally, the ban has also led to chaos at the airports, because many Muslims have U.S. visas that are valid. While many people have gone to the airports to try to aid these travelers, including immigration lawyers ready to help, the issue is far from resolved.
President Trump’s ban has infringed upon constitutional amendments, threatened the livelihoods of Muslims living in America, threatened jobs and education, has separated families, and created a significant amount of uncertainty.