Washington State AG Sues Trump Over Executive Order
However, Attorney General Bob Ferguson failed to recall the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, and it's interesting to note that Trump's predecessor in the White House did a very similar thing in 2011. But you probably didn't hear about it.
Monday, Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced Washington state is suing President Trump over his executive order that suspends the immigration program from 7 countries identified as suspected sources of terrorism. They are Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Iran and Iraq. He is one of 15 AG's who reportedly combined forces to oppose the measure. Gov. Inslee, who also appeared at the 10am press conference in Olympia, said "this is un-American and it won't stand."
The order suspends all immigration for 120 days and halts visas for 90 days from these countries for all immigrants and non-immigrants as well.
However, Ferguson has perhaps forgotten that in 2011, President Obama similarly suspended the Iraqi refugee program for six months due to terrorism concerns. Without any fanfare or little media coverage, the program was suspended after two al-Qaida members found in Kentucky and brought in as refugees admitted they targeted U.S. troops in Iraq, according to a new story from Breitbart.com. The State Department quietly suspended the program.
Trump's suspension will last until, according to government officials, the country can review, improve and strengthen it's 'flawed' screening and inspection process to prevent terrorists from infiltrating refugee programs.
Ferguson's actions also likely violate the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows a president to place bans or restrictions on aliens entering the country who are found be be a threat to national security and the population.