A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should remain a global leader in welcoming and providing refuge to refugees and asylum seekers and that no person should be banned from entering the United States because of their nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender.

Bill: 115-sres-56
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2017-02-07
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Africa

Border security and unlawful immigration

Citizenship and naturalization

Immigration status and procedures

Iran

Iraq

Libya

Middle East

Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents

Racial and ethnic relations

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Religion

Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination

Somalia

Sudan

Syria

Travel and tourism

Visas and passports

Yemen
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-07
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S871; Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S871-872)

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Declares that Executive Order 13769, entitled &quot;Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,&quot; undermines the national interest of the United States. Among the order's major provisions are restrictions on the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants from seven countries (Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) and additional limitations on refugee admissions to the United States.</p> <p>Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the United States should remain a global leader in welcoming and providing refuge to refugees and asylum seekers; and (2) no person should be banned from entering the United States because of their nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender.</p>

tv_txt: III 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 56 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 7 (legislative day, February 6), 2017 Mr. Leahy (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Booker , Mr. Reed , Mr. Carper , Ms. Warren , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Coons , Mr. Van Hollen , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Udall , Mr. Markey , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Bennet , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Franken , Mr. Brown , Mr. Murphy , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Schatz , Ms. Heitkamp , Mr. Donnelly , Mr. Heinrich , Mrs. Feinstein , Mr. Durbin , Mr. Casey , Mr. Peters , and Mr. Schumer ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should remain a global leader in welcoming and providing refuge to refugees and asylum seekers and that no person should be banned from entering the United States because of their nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender.

Whereas the United States is a country founded on the principles of religious and political freedom; Whereas hateful rhetoric against refugees and asylum seekers betrays the principles on which the United States was founded; Whereas for centuries, people from around the world have sought refuge in the United States in pursuit of freedom and protection for themselves and their families; Whereas people often seek refuge and asylum in the United States to flee war, armed conflict, violence, and religious, ethnic, and political persecution; Whereas refugees and asylum seekers have been welcomed by towns, cities, and States across the United States; Whereas refugees and asylum seekers have made their new communities stronger and more vibrant and have positively contributed to the betterment of the United States; Whereas the United States has a moral obligation to ensure that people fleeing violence and persecution are protected; Whereas the United States Senate should continue its legacy of bipartisan leadership on refugees and asylum seekers; Whereas a ban or halt on resettlement may result in prolonged and indefinite family separation; Whereas executive actions targeting refugees and asylum seekers could place these most vulnerable populations at serious risk of death or injury; and Whereas refugees are the most thoroughly screened and vetted entrants to the United States, undergoing multiple security checks by the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Counterterrorism Center: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1) it is the sense of the Senate that— (A) the United States should remain a global leader in welcoming and providing refuge to refugees and asylum seekers; and (B) no person should be banned from entering the United States because of their nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender; (2) the Executive order titled Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States issued by the President on January 27, 2017, undermines the national interest of the United States; and (3) the Senate directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of National Intelligence.