Issued January 27, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response President Trump’s announcement of a series of executive actions on immigration and refugees, SEIU International Executive Vice President and iAmerica Action President Rocio Sáenz issued the following statement:
“Another day brings another executive action that attacks immigrants, refugees and their families and compromises American values. Earlier this week, President Trump followed through on his promise to create a mass deportation force, turned the vast majority of immigrants into deportation priorities, fast-tracked their deportation, and made mandatory detention the default for all immigrants, including families and children fleeing persecution. Trump’s executive actions today will continue to intensify the criminalization of immigrants.
“America should always be a nation that welcomes immigrant and refugee families and their contributions to our communities and economy. Restrictions on immigration from predominantly Muslim countries repudiate our own values and give license to others around the world to do the same or worse. Denying refuge to persons fleeing persecution at a time when they are most in need of safety is morally wrong and un-American. It undermines our security because it harms the victims of persecution and violates our international obligations.
“SEIU members and our communities will keep standing up for immigrants, refugees and their families, despite these attacks. Tens of thousands rallied and marched in more than 70 cities throughout America on Jan. 14, and we will use our collective power in the days and months ahead to prevent deportations and protect immigrant families. We will build our movement so we can come back stronger in 2018 and 2020 to win common sense immigration reform that works for working families.”