Schumer calls Trump refugee order ‘backward and nasty’

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) condemned President Trump over his executive order Friday calling for new vetting of refugees entering the U.S.

The Democratic leader responded to the order in a statement saying that “tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight as a grand tradition of America, welcoming immigrants, that has existed since America was founded has been stomped upon.”

There are tears running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight. pic.twitter.com/X6q40dMCsN

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 27, 2017

“Taking in immigrants and refugees is not only humanitarian but has also boosted our economy and created jobs decade after decade,” Schumer continued. “This is one of the most backward and nasty executive orders that the president has issued.”

{mosads}

The White House did not provide immediate details Friday about Trump’s action, but reports suggest it would bar the U.S. from issuing visas to migrants from several Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq.

The order reportedly suspends all refugee admissions for four months, allowing the administration to determine countries that pose a risk, and is expected to block refugees from Syria, which has been engulfed in civil war since 2011.