New York, NY January 25, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today unambiguously condemned President Trump’s planned Executive Order on immigration and refugee entry into the United States. The draft order, if signed as written, would direct the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to “cease refugee processing of and the admittance of nationals of Syria as refugees,” to cap the annual number of refugees at 50,000, and to halt all travel from certain Muslim countries. The proposed order will effectively bar entry for Syrians stuck in the crossfire of its civil war, will leave vulnerable members of the LGBT community around the world persecuted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and many others.

Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, issued the following statement:

History will look back on this order as a sad moment in American History – the time when the president turned his back on people fleeing for their lives. This will effectively shut America’s doors to the most vulnerable people in the world who seek refuge from unspeakable pain and suffering.

For the Sunni family whose son languishes in prison in Iran because of his faith, for the former Army translator in Iraq who has been threatened because of his service, LGBT youth in Yemen terrorized by Islamists because of his lifestyle, for the widows and orphans caught between the barrel bombs of Assad’s regime and the unparalleled brutality of ISIS, this executive order could very well be a death sentence.

Yes, we need strict screening but these are people who are fleeing horrifying terror and unimaginable violence. To shut the door on them not only makes little sense, but it is cruel and contrary to the values of our country – a nation founded by refugees fleeing religious persecution and strengthened by waves of immigrants. More than most, our community knows what happens when the doors to freedom are shut. That is why ADL relentlessly will fight this policy in the weeks and months to come. Our history and heritage compel us to take a stand.