Former Top US Officials: Trump Travel Ban Endangers National Security
Source: Talking Points Memo
By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published FEBRUARY 6, 2017, 11:20 AM EST
A group of former top State Department and national security officials filed a brief Monday warning that President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily suspending the U.S. refugee program and barring visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries could threaten the United States' national security.
The brief, signed by former Secretaries of State John Kerry and Madeleine Albright, was filed in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge blocked the President's order.
In the brief, the officials argued that the order is unnecessary and could actually have a negative impact on U.S. national security. The officials maintained that the order will "endanger U.S. troops in the field," interfere with “key counterterrorism, foreign policy, and national security partnerships" and "endanger intelligence sources in the field," among other potential issues.
"There is no national security purpose for a total bar on entry for aliens from the seven named countries," the officials wrote, noting that the majority of attacks on American soil "have been committed by U.S. citizens."
They also argued that there is no "rational basis for exempting from the ban particular religious minorities," suggesting that Trump's order targets Muslims.
Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/top-us-officials-brief-oppose-trump-ban
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