House

Ellison ‘saddened’ by Supreme Court travel ban decision

by Julia Manchester - 06/26/18 10:55 AM ET

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) on Tuesday said he was saddened over the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Trump’s travel ban on nationals from five Muslim-majority countries, saying that it goes against core American values.

“Today’s decision undermines the core value of religious tolerance on which America was founded. I am deeply disappointed that this ruling gives legitimacy to discrimination and Islamaphobia,” Ellison, who is one of the only two sitting Muslim members of Congress, said in a statement.

{mosads}

Ellison went on to compare the decision to the Korematsu decision in 1944 that allowed Japanese internment camps, as well as the Plessy v. Ferguson decision in 1896, upholding segregation laws in public facilities.

“Today’s ruling is unjust. Like the Korematsu decision that upheld Japanese internment camps or Plessy v. Ferguson that established ‘separate but equal,’ this decision will someday serve as a marker of shame,” Ellison said.

The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision to uphold Trump’s travel ban, saying the president has broad discretion to suspend the entry of aliens into the U.S.

“The president lawfully exercised that discretion based on his findings – following a worldwide, multi-agency review – that entry of the covered aliens would be detrimental to the national interest,” Chief Justice John Roberts.

Rep. André Carson (D-Ind.), who is also Muslim, slammed the ruling in a tweet on Tuesday, calling on Congress to act.

“This decision is about presidential authority, NOT an affirmation of the President’s bigoted policy or history of targeting immigrants. His policy continues to hurt countless families across our country. Congress must vote to strike down this affront to our values as Americans,” Carson said.

This decision is about presidential authority, NOT an affirmation of the President’s bigoted policy or history of targeting immigrants. His policy continues to hurt countless families across our country. Congress must vote to strike down this affront to our values as Americans. pic.twitter.com/9u8mVnxXGm

— André Carson (@RepAndreCarson) June 26, 2018

Trump issued the policy by presidential proclamation, which limited travel into the United States by people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.

The Supreme Court decision is a significant victory for Trump, who issued the first travel ban — which detractors described as a Muslim ban — just seven days into his term.

The president took to Twitter on Tuesday to celebrate the ruling.

“SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow!” Trump tweeted.