Schakowsky Statement on President Trump's Nativist Executive Order on Immigration

“In today’s executive order, President Trump demanded that American taxpayers foot the bill for a massive wall along our southern border. That is wasteful, ineffective, and shameful. A wall does not fix our broken immigration system. It does not address the root causes of migration across our southern border. And it will cost American taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. No matter what Trump says, Mexico doesn’t seem interested in picking up the tab.

President Trump also called for extreme immigration enforcement within our borders. His actions will encourage raids and racial profiling, separate families and children, and deport long-time residents. He will send more people back to their death by turning back asylum seekers at the border without offering protection. He will undermine policing efforts in cities like Chicago by threatening their federal funds. Chicago is proud of our status as a sanctuary city. By recognizing the value and dignity of our immigrant brothers and sisters, our city is keeping the promise inscribed on the Statue of Liberty – that our country welcomes ‘the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to be free.’ The President’s nativist, anti-immigrant agenda contradicts our nation’s founding principles, and will endanger families and communities across the country.

As the proud daughter of immigrants, I believe that immigration enriches our nation. Diversity is an incredible source of strength, and we should embrace diversity and reject proposals based out of fear and hate. We should not wall ourselves off and create a police state within those walls. Our country is and will always be a land of immigrants, and it’s time to enact comprehensive immigration reform that protects our borders, keeps families together, brings people out of the shadows, and strengthens our economy.”