Prominent Democrats have been relentlessly attacking President Trump’s Executive Order temporarily limiting the flow of refugees from terror-prone nations into this country, saying it’s a “Muslim ban” that exemplifies racism, xenophobia, and bigotry.
The reality however, is that a similar law passed by Congress in 2002, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act. In fact, 57 House Democrats and 16 Senate Democrats who are still in office voted for it!
The hypocrisy is truly breathtaking.
Via Conservative Review:
Trump’s executive order is so modest that the foundation of it is essentially existing law. That law was passed unanimously by both bodies of Congress in 2002. In fact, it garnered the support of 16 Democrat senators and 57 Democrat House members who are still serving in their respective bodies!
Following 9/11, Congress passed the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, which addressed many of the insecurities in our visa tracking system. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously. The bill was originally sponsored by a group of bipartisan senators, including Ted Kennedy and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. (F, 0%). Among other provisions, it restricted non-immigrant visas from countries designated as state sponsors of terror.
How similar is this legislation compared to Trump’s executive order? Here is the relevant portion regarding a restriction on visas to individuals hailing from state sponsors of terrorism.
Daniel Horowitz at the Conservative Review explains, “The directive to cut off non-immigrant visas from countries designated as state sponsors of terror is still current law on the books [8 U.S. Code § 1735].”
He adds, “Presidents Bush and Obama later used their discretion to waive the ban, but Trump is actually following the letter of the law — the very law sponsored and passed by Democrats — more closely than Obama did.”
You can read the law that Trump’s executive order emulates below.
Dick Durbin (D-IL), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) all voted in the affirmative for the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act.
Durbin now says Trump’s similar Executive Order is “un-American.” Feinstein introduced a bill to rescind the order. Schumer broke down in tears, referring to it as “mean-spirited and un-American.” And Sanders claimed Trump was “fostering hatred” with his attempt to protect the American people.
All of those Democrats can now look in the mirror and say those very same things about themselves, knowing full-well they voted for something practically identical. Or they can admit that it’s smart policy, and Trump is right to temporarily pause the flow of immigrants and refugees into our country from nations that harbor terrorists.
Comment: Are you surprised to learn Democrats actually once believed in protecting the American people from terrorists using the immigration system to attack our nation? Share your thoughts below.
