Bill Lee: “I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal) for their tremendous…”

“I thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal) for their tremendous leadership. They have hit the ground running here in Congress in defense of our Nation's immigrants and refugees and for all who just seek to live the American Dream. So thank you very much for your leadership and for calling us together tonight. Mr. Speaker, in his first week as President, Donald Trump issued an executive order essentially banning immigrants and refugees from the United States on the basis of religion. This action effectively shuts our gates to some of the most vulnerable people in the world fleeing danger and death. This ban flies in the face of our fundamental values as Americans. It is, yes, morally reprehensible and will only serve to make the United States less safe. This executive order is also a direct threat to our national security. Banning Muslim immigrants and refugees only fuels ISIS propaganda by promoting the false idea that the United States is at war with Islam. This halfway ban is felt in our communities across the Nation. In my district, one Iranian student at the University of California, Berkeley was not allowed to board the plane to return to the United States. She is now forced to withdraw from the semester. This is a disgrace. Mr. Speaker, this Nation is and has been and will always be a Nation of immigrants. This ban and this President and his executive orders do not reflect our values.…”