President Trump’s Friday Executive Order sent airports into chaos this past weekend as citizens of the seven banned countries were detained at Dulles International Airport. The no borders/one (or no) world government left descended in droves to protest and demand the release of detainees.
Congressman Connolly “champion for the little-guy” began ranting Saturday and went to Dulles Sunday to demand that he himself access the detainees.
January 28, 2017 Facebook:
I’m calling on United States Department of Homeland Security to release two of my constituents who are being unconstitutionally detained at Dulles Airport…
Non-citizens are not “constituents,” but that probably doesn’t matter to Connolly.
Sunday January 29, 2017 Facebook:
Connolly goes to Dulles Airport and “demands to see the detainees.”
He then went on to call somebody at Customs and Border Patrol and accomplish nothing (Twitter):
https://twitter.com/yjtorbati/status/825796385513598976
Although, as far as I can tell, Connolly put on this entire show, not because he believes President Trump is wrong, but because President Trump didn’t give him credit.
Head to the way-back-machine:
ALL THE WAY back in November 2015 President Obama was trying to keep the then current refugee system in place despite Congressional action in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris.
Gerry Connolly was one of 47 Democrats who voted for HR4038 that passed the House by overwhelming margins before being killed on a cloture vote in the Senate.
I guess adding restrictions on entry does not hinder refugees from entering the U.S. or something…
When given the opportunity to opine on refugee restrictions Connolly voted yes. When given the opportunity to engage in political theatre against President Trump he hurried out to the airport to demand that civil servants honor his Congressional badge and grant him access to detainees while all the cameras were flashing.
If I were a full throated liberal I would be far more upset with Connolly, than proud of his behavior.
My notes on the EO:
The Executive Order was poorly thought out in that Legal Permanent Residents and anyone else who has already completed a vetting process should not have been detained. Legally it was required under the EO. In recognition of the need to put the issue behind the Administration, Secretary Kelly of DHS issued the following proclamation almost 48 hours after issuance of the EO:
In applying the provisions of the president’s executive order, I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interest.
Accordingly, absent the receipt of significant derogatory information indicating a serious threat to public safety and welfare, lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in our case-by-case determinations.
The EO should have been drafted differently, and briefings with Customs and Border Control agents on-the-ground should have occurred prior to issuance of the EO.
Paul Prados, is Chairman of the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee
