News from the Week of January 30:

Here’s another round-up of what we’ve been reading and watching this week, from the news and around the web:

Last Friday President Trump signed an executive order that indefinitely bars Syrian refugees from entering the United States, suspends refugee admissions for 120 days, and stops anyone from seven nations—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen—from entering the United States for 90 days.

The shockwaves were immediate as airports erupted in chaos as Border Patrol agents were unsure how to enact the order. Monday, the president claimed on Twitter that only 109 people “were detained and held for questioning.” The order, however, impacts far more than that. The total number of people whose visas were rescinded is more than one hundred thousand, according to a government attorney in federal court. There are also many more affected in other ways, including by being separated from loved ones and being unable to leave the United States for fear of being barred from returning.

In the Boston Globe, VFAI leader and novelist Matt Gallagher called on “citizens of all political stripes” to resist the order, saying it “betrays American values and weakens our national security.”

Peter Kiernan, veteran of the Marine Special Operation Command and VFAI member, wrote in Task and Purpose that the executive order will endanger Special Operations Forces when partner forces lose trust and rapport in American teams.

On Southern California’s KPCC radio, VFAI leaders Mac McEachin and Kelsey Campbell spoke about Iraqi interpreters, whose Special Immigrant Visa applications are at a standstill under the travel ban. McEahin stated, “It means the difference between life and death […] and not only them, but their wives and children.”

This concern was also voiced by Scott Cooper, founder of VFAI, in a press conference on Capitol Hill with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), No One Left Behind, and Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). Cooper didn’t mince words, “This is not right. They have stood up with us, they’ve bled with us, they’ve fought with us, and America is effectively turning our back on them. It is a broken promise.”

The stance of this administration is a clear turn from those of the past. As VFAI member Joe Jenkins recalled, it’s important to remember the George W. Bush’s peaceful words after 9/11, “The face of terrorism is not the true faith of Islam.”

To spread understanding, VFAI went to Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center in Baltimore last Sunday.  At the event, Dr. Faheem Younus, the national youth president at the center, thanked the audience, saying, “what we are doing here between the Muslim and veteran community is to build that very strong bridge of understanding and therefore we add credibility to both sides.” While there, VFAI leader Mansoor Shams said of the bans, “It’s clearly against what America stands for, and I think these protests go to show for it.”

Have reactions to share, or want to learn how you can be involved in our efforts to raise veteran voices in support of refugees? Find us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us at vfai@humanrightsfirst.