Beaumont Republican Leader Criticizes Trump's Immigration Executive Order

BEAUMONT, CA - Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes Monday criticized President Donald Trump's executive order barring the immigration of refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

"Religious liberty is a core value of our nation. My ancestors immigrated to America to flee religious persecution," said Mayes, R-Yucca Valley, whose district includes Beaumont, Hemet, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs and San Jacinto.

"While bolstering our national security is important, when forced to decide between security and liberty, I will always side with liberty," Mayes said in a prepared statement issued in response to the executive order, which suspends entry into the U.S. for those traveling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, and all refugee admission for 120 days.

Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia, D-Coachella, also weighed in, saying "President Trump's actions threaten the safety of residents in my district and the core values of our nation and state."

Garcia said the order "does not make us safer";"risks the separation of families"; and "will greatly jeopardize our workforce, commerce, and the overall economy."

Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, called the executive order "wrong and misguided" and said it "threatens our moral clarity, American values, and national security" in a statement.

"I am appalled by these actions and the very real human toll they will have on innocent families," said Ruiz.

In Coachella, the region's lone sanctuary city, Mayor Steven Hernandez said the city will "do everything we can to protect innocent immigrants in the city of Coachella."

Hernandez said that since 2012, city funds have not been used to aid immigration officials or inquire about a person's legal status.

"For the next four years, the city of Coachella leadership will stand with its community, advocate for fair and comprehensive immigration reform, and stay vigilant to the immigration enforcement mobilization that will most likely transpire through the Trump presidency/administration," he said.

In a statement issued Sunday, Trump said, "America is a proud nation of immigrants and we will continue to show compassion to those fleeing oppression, but we will do so while protecting our own citizens and border.

America has always been the land of the free and home of the brave. We will keep it free and keep it safe, as the media knows, but refuses to say. My policy is similar to what President Obama did in 2011 when he banned visas for refugees from Iraq for six months.

The seven countries named in the executive order are the same countries previously identified by the Obama administration as sources of terror.

To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion -- this is about terror and keeping our country safe. There are over 40 different countries worldwide that are majority Muslim that are not affected by this order.

We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days. I have tremendous feeling for the people involved in this horrific humanitarian crisis in Syria. My first priority will always be to protect and serve our country, but as president I will find ways to help all those who are suffering."

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— By City News Service / Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons