Brown Sponsored Legislation to Overturn the Executive Order, Wrote Trump Urging Him to Revoke It

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) is continuing to speak out against President Donald Trump’s executive order that bans individuals from seven countries from entering the United States, including refugees fleeing violence and persecution.

“We must continue to use every tool at our disposal to make sure our screening system is tough and effective, and I have and will continue to support meaningful efforts to ensure our vetting process works to keep terrorists out,” said Brown. “But abandoning the values and humanity that make America great will only make our country less secure. This order risks weakening alliances essential to our nation’s security. Our allies may be less willing to work with our military or host our troops, resulting in longstanding damage to our standing in the world and to our safety.”

During his news conference call, Brown noted that among those detained at airports following the ban were doctor on her way to the Cleveland Clinic to help treat Ohioans and a Cleveland father who had waited four years to reunite with his 14 year-old son and was forced to wait even longer when his refugee son was banned.

In the days following the executive order, Brown rallied with Columbus residents at John Glenn Columbus International Airport to protest the executive order. Members of his staff attended a similar rally in Cleveland. Brown and his office also reached out to Cleveland Clinic, Ohio mayors, college presidents, and community leaders to offer assistance.

Brown is supporting legislation that would reverse the executive order and signed a letter to Trump urging him to revoke the ban. He is also the cosponsor of a resolution in support of refugees and asylum seekers that declares no one should be turned away based on their nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.