Human Rights First on President Trump’s Speech

Washington, D.C.—Following President Trump’s address before a joint session of Congress, Human Rights First’s Jennifer Quigley issued the following statement:

“President Trump’s remarks on immigration marked an abandonment of our nation’s long tradition of welcoming refugees who contribute to the betterment of the United States.  Accepting refugees aids our national security, bolsters allies strained by the regional influxes of millions of refugees, and counters ISIS propaganda, which is vital to any plan to defeat ISIS.

“Fear mongering that refugees and immigrants are threats belies intelligence reports from the Department of Homeland Security to the contrary, as well as statistics that show immigrants are less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens. We should not allow unsubstantiated claims to undermine our American values and national security.”