Over the last few weeks, immigration has become the focus of a national debate that has included countless political pundits, presidential candidates, and President Obama himself. Much of this newest debate was spurred by the mass shooting that occurred in San Bernardino on December 2nd, an incident that the FBI has classified as an act of terrorism.
Following the shooting—which was perpetrated by two foreign-born Muslim citizens—GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a complete halt of Muslim immigration into the U.S. As many quickly noted, that that kind of discriminatory national policy would likely be both legal and unconstitutional.
“I believe Trump’s unprecedented proposal would violate our Constitution, both the First Amendment’s Religion Clauses and the equality dimension of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment,” Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe told NBC. He also added that the measure would be impossible to implement and “stupidly play into the hands of extreme Islamic terrorists.”
“We Don’t Remember Where We Came From”
Trump's proposal even drew criticism from some conservatives, but Democratic rebuttal has also been strong. Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hilary Clinton have both criticized the proposal, instead supporting the White House's current plans to bolster immigrant screening processes. At a recent naturalization ceremony for 31 new American Citizens at the National Archives, President Obama also spoke upon the importance of an open immigration policy and its ties to American principles.
“In the Muslim immigrant today, we see the Catholic immigrant of a century ago. In the Syrian refugee of today, we should see the Jewish refugee of World War II,” Obama said. Speaking about past American policies that discriminated against certain types of immigrants, he remarked: “We succumbed to fear. We betrayed not only our fellow Americans but our deepest values... How quickly we forget. One generation passes, two generations pass and suddenly we don’t remember where we came from.”
If you are facing an immigration matter, then it is advised to that you speak to legal counsel immediately. At Maney & Gordon, P.A., our Tampa immigration attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience in this practice area. We understand the concerns and challenges foreign-born residents face and have countless times secured swift and reliable solutions to their immigration issue.
Pursue good standing with a proven advocate on your side. Contact us today.
