Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Demanding Meeting and Answers from DHS Chief

Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in Demanding Meeting and Answers from DHS Chief

Senators' Letter to Secretary Kelly Raises Alarm About the Role of Stephen Bannon and Stephen Miller in Revoking Rights of Green Card Holders, and President Trump's Plan to Institute Religious Test for Immigrants

WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan joined fellow Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members McCaskill (D-MO), Carper (D-DE), Tester (D-MT), Heitkamp (D-ND), Peters (D-MI), and Harris (D-CA) to demand a meeting with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly amid troubling reports that he and key members within DHS were not appropriately involved with the crafting and implementation of President Trump's latest executive order.

"President Trump's executive order imposes a dangerous and un-American religious test on entry into the United States and runs counter to the fundamental values that make America the greatest country on earth. It will also make us less safe," said Senator Maggie Hassan. "As a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on all available options - including holding hearings and cosponsoring legislation - to reverse this un-American executive order."

In a letter to Secretary Kelly, the Senators write that they are "deeply troubled by this unprecedented order and its implementation by the Department of Homeland Security," and ask Kelly to answer a series of questions related to his role in crafting the Executive Order, as well as the method DHS plans to use to collect religious data, after President Trump's assertion in a recent interview that the United States would give preference to Christians seeking to obtain visas or admission into the country.

Related to the role of Kelly and White House aides Stephen Miller and Stephen Bannon, the Senators wrote, "On Friday evening, DHS senior officials interpreted the order to mean that legal permanent residents from the seven affected countries would not be prevented from traveling to or entering the U.S, and you provided assurances to Senate Democratic leadership that legal permanent residents would not be affected. Overnight, you were reportedly overruled by the White House, specifically by Stephen Miller and Stephen Bannon, who determined that legal permanent residents were subject to the Executive Order."

To better understand the role of various officials, the Senators asked for the names of personnel involved in drafting and reviewing the Executive Order, as well as any legal analysis that was conducted. The Senators also requested an emergency meeting with Secretary Kelly within the next 48 hours.

Additionally, the Senators expressed alarm at a proposed religious tests for future immigrants writing, "We also have grave concerns about the President's assertion on a television interview that our country would give preference to Christians seeking to obtain visas or admission to the U.S. This nation is founded on the bedrock principles of liberty and religious freedom, and a religious test for those seeking to enter this country abandons and violates these principles."

As part of their request, the Senators asked Kelly for information related to the current collection of religious data by DHS, as well as what process would be used to confirm the religion of future visa applicants.

A copy of the Senators' letter is available online HERE.

###