AUGUSTA — Lewiston’s state senator called President Donald Trump’s immigration order “the most egregious moral failure by the American government in the modern era.”
Nate Libby, the assistant Democratic leader, said the immigration restriction “runs afoul of the promise of America inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, that our shores will always be welcome to those seeking freedom and a better, safer life.”
Trump issued an executive order Friday that blocked immigrants from seven majority Muslim countries from entering the country for 90 days, barred those from Syria and prohibited refugees for 120 days. The controversial move has spurred protests and lawsuits across the country.
Among the nations whose citizens are targeted for the travel ban is Somalia, a place where many in Lewiston have friends and family.
In a prepared release, Libby said his hometown exemplifies that American spirit “and in return has been made better by immigrants and refugees.”
“Our city has benefited from the contributions of several waves of migrants, from the Franco families who built the industrial base that fueled generations of prosperity to the African and Middle Eastern refugees who brought new life and vibrancy when that industrial base withered,” Libby said.
According to Libby’s prepared statement, Abdi Abdalla, director of Maine Community Integration in Lewiston, said that while he is an American citizen now, “I’ll always be refugee,” as well.
“None of these people understand what it means to have been separated from your loved ones,” Abdalla said in the release.
“I am among those who fled to America for the simple chance to live and not have my life taken by the hands of those who did not value life,” he said. “Countless mothers, daughters, sons, wives and husbands spend their hard-earned money for the chance of seeing their loved ones, and for them to witness the day President Trump delivered his promises is undeniably heartbreaking.”
A pharmacist in Lewiston who came to the United States as a refugee from Kenya, Abdifatah Ahmed was also quoted in Libby’s release, saying he and his siblings were able to “to go to school and became integrated as Americans.”
“We all graduated from universities from Boston and work professionally. We are taxpayers and contributed to our country,” he said.
“But some of our families were not so fortunate. They have waited in the refugee camps in Kenya for more than 23 years and died in the refugee camps waiting for the process of coming to America,” Ahmed said in the release.
“Parents passed away and their children are still in the refugee camps in Kenya and some of the children were born in the refugee camps. They cannot go back to Somalia because of security reasons,” he said.
“Now, President Trump’s order bans the families who have waited for years to unite their children and parents,” Ahmed said. “This is un-American, inhumane and unconstitutional.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
