WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 9, 2017) – Today the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the suspension of President Trump’s executive order on immigration, giving thousands of refugees a chance to seek the protection and life-saving services they need. The order, which barred the admission of Syrian refugees into the U.S., suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days and imposed a new system of “extreme vetting” on travelers from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. This life-saving program provides protection to the world’s most vulnerable refugees – predominantly women and children – fleeing conflict and persecution.
“CARE is pleased at this ruling and that we as Americans will continue, for now, in our great tradition of welcoming all people who seek refuge,” said Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of CARE. “That said, we know this is a contentious and ongoing battle, and we will not abandon those who need us most.”
To demonstrate our commitment, CARE has launched the #BetterThanTheBan campaign, asking supporters to share on social media why we are #BetterThanTheBan and help circulate a petition asking legislators to stand in solidarity with refugees. “We need to rally millions of Americans to stand with refugees and signal who we are,” Nunn said.
The United States has historically demonstrated international leadership by resettling the most vulnerable individuals fleeing conflict and persecution. We must continue to lead by example, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with frontline states, such as Jordan, who are hosting these individuals. Should the United States abandon these principles at a time of growing displacement, it could not only strain U.S. relations with these countries, but also send a dangerous message to other countries that upholding international laws and commitments is subject to political whims.
President Trump signed this executive order in the name of national security. However, CARE remains deeply concerned that imposing discriminatory standards and a comprehensive ban on Syrians will create more ill-will than protection. Syrian refugees resettling in the United States flee the same violence and terrorism that the United States works to protect us from. They want stability, safety and the chance to provide a future for their families.
CARE supports the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program as an important measure to save lives. By prioritizing vulnerability, the majority of those resettled in the United States are women and children under 14, including those with extreme medical needs. These are the people whose lives are in jeopardy when resettlement is not an option. CARE will continue to advocate for America’s historic leadership as a humanitarian nation that has led by example and benefitted as a result.
Founded seven decades ago as a way for Americans to send CARE Packages of food and supplies to war-torn Europe, CARE is now asking supporters to send 20,000 CARE Packages in the form of grocery debit cards for Syrian refugees in dire need. The cards allow refugees to buy the emergency supplies they need the most, from food, hygiene and household essentials to coats, blankets and heaters. CARE is on the ground right now providing the cards to people in refugee camps and cities in Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon, Greece and beyond.
ABOUT CARE: Founded in 1945, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside poor girls and women because, equipped with the proper resources, they have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. Last year, CARE worked in 94 countries and reached more than 80 million people around the world. To learn more, please visit www.care.org.
Media Contacts: Nicole Ellis, +1-202-560-1791, nicole.ellis@care.org; and Nicole Harris, nharris@care.org.
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