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Edit: AC Voice has just published a response to this article.
Ever since Donald Trump won the Presidential Election, Republicans have listened to the complaints and disgust people have for him and what he stands for. While you may not agree with him, he is still your president. So far, President Trump has proved to be a man of his word. In his short time in office, he has signed executive orders that will help our country continue to be the superpower we are, because America truly is the greatest country in the world. He has directed the Secretary of Defense to create a plan within 30 days to defeat ISIS, a terrorist group that has committed terrible acts of terrorism in multiple countries, and a group that imposes an immediate threat to our country. He is putting America first by bringing jobs and business back to the States, as seen through his withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. He has placed a hiring freeze for some federal government workers in order to shrink the size of the government, giving the American people more power.
Most recently and arguably the most controversial, he has hired more Border Patrol agents and placed a temporary ban on the immigration of foreigners from 7 countries that are highly known for embedding terrorists to the United States. This ruling is not unconstitutional. It is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 that states, “whenever the president finds that the entry of aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, the president may, by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrant’s or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.” President Trump is acting well within the confines of the Constitution with his temporary 90-day ban of immigration to the United States.
It is surprising to me that amid the turmoil of this executive order, there is no mention of former President Obama’s 6-month ban in 2011. Under his administration, Obama barred entry to the United States of those under the United Nations travel ban or those who covered transactions with terrorists, those who helped Syria or Iran or involved in human rights abuses for those governments, and entry of those claiming government authority in the Crimea region of Ukraine. He also banned anybody involved in war crimes or any other crime including human rights violations and anyone known to threaten South Sedan. It’s amazing how two similar policies designed to protect our nation can be perceived so differently because of a difference in political view.
In the wake of the election, Republicans and Trump supporters on campus and in our nation did not boast, nor did we oppose every executive order signed when Obama took office in 2008. Instead of feeling open to express our content with the American system that has elected the past 45 leaders, we were outcast and treated with disgust. It is not our job, nor is it the job of the Amherst College Administration to condemn every order Trump signs. We must buy in to the system and believe that we are doing what is best for America. Our country cannot afford to be divided. For almost 241 years the United States has thrived on a world stage. All eyes are on the United States of America and we can either succeed together or we can fail alone. History has proven that America does not lose, and we are not about to start. Give President Trump the benefit of the doubt and buy in to making America great again.
Sarah Melanson
acvoice.wordpress.com 