Cummings: We Cannot Let Ourselves Be Guided By Fear

CWA District 6 Vice President Claude Cummings, who heads CWA's Human Rights Program, issued this statement in response to President Donald Trump's executive action on immigration:

President Donald Trump's ill-conceived executive actions on immigration – thinly veiled as national security measures – will do nothing to address the real problems of our broken immigration system and prevent terrorist attacks. Instead, they simply block immigrants and refugees, many of whom have faced horrific conditions, from seeking asylum and safe haven in the United States.

This weekend we witnessed harrowing scenes of families being torn apart – mothers and fathers separated from their children, families being held for several hours without food or water. People are being detained at airports because of their country of origin and religious beliefs, an action that violates the U.S. Constitution.

Enforcement strategies that criminalize our immigrant communities, encourage racial profiling and erode due process have no place in our nation.

We cannot allow ourselves to be guided by fear, and therefore allow our principles to be tossed aside. America was built by immigrants and, above all, on the promise of freedom from persecution and free expression of religion. We urge our government to reverse or counteract these orders, and we pledge to stand strong and united.