• Press Release

Executive Action on Refugees is Cruel and Inhumane

January 26, 2017

Based on reports and remarks made by President Trump, Amnesty International USA had the following reaction to an executive order regarding extreme and unwarranted restrictions on immigrants.

“This puts anti-Muslim bigotry into policy and is eerily reminiscent of the kind of religious discrimination we’ve documented in countries like China and Iran,” said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.

“The executive order President Donald Trump issued today is cruel, inhumane, and violates international law.The United States has a rich history of helping refugees rebuild their lives safely and with dignity. Our refugeeprograms should not paint individuals’ national origin or religion as suspicious or unwelcome.”

“People seeking asylum are no different than anyone else who wants to live free from fear. We will fight to ensure that the U.S. continues to play a role in addressing this global humanitarian crisis, instead of turning its back on people fleeing some of the world’s most desperate situations.”

“The vast majority of Americans reject this malicious and divisive agenda, which violates human rights and goes against this country’s shared values of equality, dignity, and opportunity for all. Amnesty International has over a million members and supporters organizing to help communities around the U.S. welcome refugees. We are mobilizing to demand that Congress protects human rights, including those of people fleeing violence and seeking asylum.

Amnesty International’s “I Welcome” campaign protects the rights of refugees and people seeking asylum by documenting human rights abuses and pressing governments to do their fair share to address this humanitarian crisis. In the U.S., Amnesty International is working to protect refugee resettlement programs and access to asylum at the U.S southern border, in particular the harsh practice of automatically detaining children and their mothers who are seeking asylum and other practices that undermine meaningful access.