CONYERS & LOFGREN Statement On SCOTUS Decision To Take Up Trump Muslim & Refugee Ban

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Subcommittee on Immigration Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today released the following joint statement after the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would take up Trump’s Muslim and Refugee ban: 

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision recognizes a central constitutional defect in Donald Trump’s Muslim and Refugee Ban—the damage it inflicts on the interests of U.S. citizens and institutions. As the opinion notes, the ban serves to separate citizens from their foreign national family members, American universities from their students, and U.S. employers from their workers.  By leaving in place the lower courts’ block on the Trump Administration’s attempts to bar foreign nationals with U.S. ties from entering the country, the Court underscores the ban’s unconstitutionality and adverse impact on America as a whole.

“At the same time, the Court’s opinion fails to reflect other key ways in which the ban violates our Constitution. Most important, by allowing the Trump Administration to bar the entry into the United States of certain travelers from Muslim-majority countries and refugees without U.S. ties, the Court ignored the Order’s fundamentally discriminatory intent and effect.  Candidate Trump campaigned on a Muslim ban; the Supreme Court should have realized this Order fulfilled that pledge.

“We are deeply disappointed in this portion of the Court’s decision, which will enable the Trump Administration to disrupt and upend the lives of many thousands of innocent people.  Making matters worse, the ban will weaken the U.S. economy and undermine our relationships with key partners abroad in the fight against terror.

“We therefore urge our Republican colleagues to join Democrats in supporting H.R. 1503, the Statute of Liberty Values Act 2.0 (SOLVe 2.0). This bill would nullify in full the Muslim and Refugee ban—which, as reflected in today’s Supreme Court decision, is unconstitutional at its core—ending its harmful consequences for our national values, economy, and security.”

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CONYERS Statement On Circuit Court Ruling To Block Trump's Muslim/Refugee Ban

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) released the following statement after the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a block on President Donald Trump's revised Muslim and refugee ban executive order:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“Today, yet another court has struck down Trump's un-American Muslim and refugee ban.  Even in its so-called revised form, the courts have not closed their eyes to the undeniable truth--that the ban was intended to harm Muslims and thus is in conflict with the First Amendment's prohibition on the establishment of religion.

“The second travel ban executive order, like the first, undoubtedly targets Muslims and is unconstitutional. I’m pleased that the judicial branch has been steadfast in their commitment to upholding the constitution.”

In April 2017, Ranking Member Conyers helped lead 165 Democratic Members of Congress in filing a brief as amici curiae in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the case of International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trumpto highlight the unlawfulness of Trump’s second travel ban executive order.

In their amicus brief, the Members wrote, “…despite the Second Order’s self-serving claims to the contrary, it delivers on President Trump’s repeated promises as a candidate to limit the entry of Muslims into the country.  In so doing, it flies in the face of one of our most deeply rooted constitutional values: that the government must not favor (or disfavor) any particular religion. As the Constitution’s text and history make clear, the Religion Clauses—both Article VI’s prohibition on the use of religious tests, and the First Amendment’s promise of “free exercise of religion” and prohibition on “laws respecting an establishment of religion”—prohibit a religious test that singles out a religion for discriminatory treatment under our immigration laws. . . . The best way to protect the security of the nation and to uphold foundational American values is to respect the Constitution’s fundamental protections and the laws passed by Congress.”

INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT v TRUMP U.S. Fourth Circuit No. 17-1351 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

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CONYERS joins round table discussion with Syrian and Iraqi refugees that have resettled in Southeast Michigan

Today, I joined Department of Homeland SecuritySecretary Jeh Johnson & Rep. Debbie Dingell for a round table discussion with Syrian and Iraqi refugees that have resettled in Southeast Michigan.

Dearborn, Michigan is home to the largest proportion of Arab Americans in the United States. I greatly welcome the opportunity to learn firsthand how we can better address the concerns of newly resettled #refugees. #DHSinDearborn#RefugeesWelcome



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33 Members of Congress Urge Congressional Leadership to Consider Improvements To Visa Waiver Bill Provisions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), joined by 29 Members of Congress, issued a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (R-NV) asking them to consider possible improvements to the House-passed version of H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015. The letter was signed by Members who voted for and against H.R. 158.

The House-passed H.R. 158 would result in discrimination against people simply because they are dual citizens based on ancestry, which could result in our Visa Waiver Program partner nations placing new limits on travel by U.S. citizens to their countries. The bill would also bar certain humanitarian workers from traveling under the Visa Waiver Program, and thus could result in less assistance reaching some of the most vulnerable individuals in the world.  Additionally, the House-passed bill also fails to include a sunset provision for the new visa waiver procedures, denying Congress the opportunity to reevaluate their efficacies and determine if additional changes are needed.

Letter From 33 Members of Congress Urge Congressional Leadership to Consider Improvements To Visa Waiver Bi...

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Conyers, Kildee, Dingell, Lawrence Release Joint Statement on Visa Waiver Program Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) released the following joint statement on H.R. 158, the “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act,” which would, among other things, prevent dual nationals of Iraq and Syria, or individuals who have traveled to these countries, from participating in the Visa Waiver Program.

Dean of the U.S. House
                  of Representatives
                   John Conyers, Jr.

“The first responsibility of government is to keep the American people safe. The American people are rightfully concerned about the threat of terrorism following the attacks in Beirut, Paris and San Bernardino. Recently, Congress and the Administration have been examining changes to the Visa Waiver Program to ensure that there are not any vulnerabilities that could put the American people at risk. 

“There are many provisions of H.R. 158 that we support. Specifically, requiring all travelers under the Visa Waiver Program to have an unexpired, fraud-resistant electronic passport is an important security measure to take. We also support requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to study further ways to incorporate anti-fraud and deception technology into the Visa Waiver Program. Both of these steps will help improve our security here at home.

“However, we voted against the H.R. 158 today because we are concerned that the provisions in the legislation restricting the use of the visa waiver program to individuals who have travelled to Syria or Iraq or are dual nationals of these or other covered nations are discriminatory. These more controversial provisions have never been the subject of any committee hearing or markup and deserved more review and vetting before being considered on the House Floor.

“We are also concerned that these provisions contain no exceptions for journalists, researchers, human rights investigators or other professionals.  There is also an issue as to whether the new requirement will result in our partner nations placing new limits on travel by U.S. citizens to their own countries. 

“It is because of these concerns that numerous civil rights and civil liberties groups have expressed serious concerns or outright opposition to the overall legislation, including the ACLU, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the NAACP, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Arab-American Civil Rights League, Human Rights Watch, and the League of United Latin American Citizens, among others. 

“We hope that these provisions will face further review and consideration before being taken up by the Senate or included in any year-end legislation.”  

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Floor Statement: House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. on H.R. 158, the “Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act”

“Mr. Speaker, as much as any member in this body, I appreciate the unique situation our Nation is in as we struggle to effectively combat terrorism, while adhering to our Nation’s commitment to freedom and liberty. 

“I fully recognize and appreciate that the visa waiver bill before us today represents an effort to craft a more bipartisan response to recent terrorist incidents, particularly when compared to the seriously flawed refugee bill that this body voted on several weeks ago. 

“I commend the authors for including many common sense improvements to the visa waiver program that will improve the system in a neutral and non-discriminatory manner. These reforms include:

·         Requiring fraud resistant, electronic passports;

·         Mandating timely reporting of any thefts of these passports;

·         Enhanced reporting requirements;

·         And, incorporating new anti-fraud and deception technology.

“However, I believe the provisions in the legislation restricting the use of the visa waiver program to individuals who have travelled to Syria or Iraq or are dual nationals of these or other covered nations – are discriminatory. 

“I understand that these individuals are not banned from travelling to our Nation, and are simply subject to increased questioning and scrutiny before they can travel here. 

“However, history has shown that arbitrary across the board judgments based on broad characteristics such as these do nothing to enhance our security and only cast a cloud of suspicion over entire communities here in our country.

“Equally problematic is the provision’s overbreadth.  It contains no exceptions for journalists, researchers, human rights investigators or other professionals. 

“This will make it harder, not easier, to document and respond to human rights violations and other abuses.  I also believe the provision should have included a sunset date so we can assess its efficacy.  I am further concerned that the new requirement will result in our partner nations placing new limits on travel by U.S. citizens to their own countries. 

“It is because of these problems that numerous civil rights and civil liberties groups have expressed serious concerns or outright opposition to the overall legislation, including the ACLU, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the NAACP, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Arab-American Civil Rights League, Human Rights Watch, and the League of United Latin American Citizens, among others. 

“While there are many positive aspects to the legislation, I believe in the end we cannot countenance anything in our laws that judges individuals based on their nationality rather than their character.” 

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Conyers: We Must Not Turn our Backs on the World’s Refugees

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“In the midst of a global refugee crisis, we cannot turn our backs on the world’s refugees.  Millions of Syrians are fleeing the very violence and depravity in their war-torn home country that we saw on gruesome display in Paris on Friday, the 13^th.  Rather than betraying our values, we must continue to focus on the most effective tools to keep us safe while also providing refuge for the world’s most vulnerable.

“Refugees are more thoroughly vetted than any other traveler or immigrant to the United States.  We rely on methodical and exhaustive background checks (18 - 24 months on average and longer in many cases) performed by the Departments of Homeland Security and State, in conjunction with the CIA, FBI, and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies.  We should not let kneejerk reactions keep us from being a beacon of hope for Syrian refugees and other refugees in the Middle East, Africa, and around the world.  Doing anything different would not only be turning our back on the world’s refugees, but also on our own proud of history of providing safe haven.”

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Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security Hearing on: “The Syrian Refugee Crisis and Its Impact on the Security of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program”

           

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“This hearing, which focuses on the Syrian refugee crisis and its impact on the security of our Nation’s Refugee Admissions Program, has the potential to shed meaningful light on critical issues of interest to all Americans.

            “Unfortunately and with all due respect to our witnesses, the value of today’s undertaking is greatly diminished by the fact that immediately following the conclusion of this hearing, we will go directly to the floor to vote on H.R. 4038, the so-called “American SAFE Act,” a bill that would effectively shut down refugee processing for Syrians and Iraqis. 

           

“Clearly, there are no easy solutions to a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude, as well as the security threats we will hear about today. 

            “Yet, H.R. 4038 is not the right answer and I want the witnesses to focus on what should be our response, keeping in mind these factors. 

            “To begin with, while ensuring the safety of all Americans should be our top priority, H.R. 4038, which would effectively debar Syrian and Iraqi refugees from the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, does nothing to promote security.  

            “This measure sets unreasonable clearance standards that the Department of Homeland Security cannot meet and thereby it would halt refugee resettlement in the United States.              

           

“Without question, the Program should be held to the highest standards to ensure – to the greatest extent possible – that the security screening is thorough, effective, and timely. 

            “In fact, refugees are already subject to the highest level of vetting – more than any other traveler or immigrant to the United States. 

            “This extensive screening process – performed by the Departments of Homeland Security and State, in conjunction with the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies – relies on methodical and exhaustive background checks that often take between 18 to 24 months on average to complete and even longer in many cases. 

            “But, like any system, there can be room for further improvement.  So I would appreciate your thoughts on how we can accomplish that goal.

            “Second, we must keep in mind that our Nation was founded by immigrants and has historically welcomed refugees when there is suffering around the globe. 

            “Whether it is an earthquake in Haiti, a tsunami in Asia, or four years of Civil War in Syria with no end in sight – the world looks to the United States.  We provide protections for refugees and asylum seekers, especially women and children.

           

            “Nevertheless, in the wake of the September 11 attacks on our shores and the tragic November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, we must be vigilant especially in the midst of a global refugee crisis.      

           

“H.R. 4038, however, is an extreme over-reaction to these latest security concerns.

            “Rather than shutting our doors to these desperate men, women, and children who are risking their lives to escape death and torture in their homelands, we should work to utilize our immense resources and good intentions of our citizens to welcome them.

            “And, finally, Congress needs to do its part by properly funding refugee resettlement as well as funding our federal agencies so they have the necessary personnel and programs to complete security checks.        

       “Rather than slamming our doors to the world’s most vulnerable, we should be considering legislation to strengthen and expand refugee programs. 
           

“For example, I am a co-sponsor of H.R.1568, the ‘Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act of 2015,’ which would allow persecuted individuals in ISIS-held territories in Iraq and Syria to apply directly to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

            “Rather than rushing to the floor to consider legislation that was introduced just two days ago and that has not been the subject of even a single hearing, we should devote our legislative resources to developing meaningful solutions.”

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