Trump Administration's Deeply Flawed Immigration Policy

Trump's recent Executive Order banning certain people from entering the US couldn't have been better designed to create chaos.  And, one wonders if that wasn't part of Steve Bannon's strategy in drafting it.

NPR provided an annotated analysis of the order: http://www.npr.org/2017/01/31/512439121/trumps-executive-order-on-immigration-annotated that is definitely worth reading.

At the time of this post, the EO is under a Temporary Restraining Order imposed by a Federal judge. 17 States have filed a brief asking that the TRO be kept in place.  This list from the brief is a good summary of their rationale:

Washington, Minnesota, and Other States Have Standing to Challenge the Executive Order Because of the Harm It Inflicts on the States themselves.

• Disruption and Additional Costs at State Colleges and Universities.
• Disruption to State Medical Institutions
• Diminished Tax Revenues from Students, Tourists, and Business Visitors
• Irreparable Harm from Establishment Clause Violations
• Harm to Sovereign and Quasi-Sovereign Interests

You can read the full brief here: https://www.scribd.com/document/338596484/17-States-Join-Washington-v-Trump#from_embed

This quote from the President of the University of Pennsylvania, Amy Gutmann, regarding the EO is telling:

The damage already done to the lawful freedoms and opportunities of our students and colleagues, here and around the world, is undeniable and indefensible.

Update: On February 9, a 3 judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court upheld the Temporary Restraining Order. The text of the decision can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/09/politics/travel-ban-9th-circuit-ruling-full-text/ A key issue in the decision was "lack of due process" in depriving individuals of their life, liberty or property.

More on upcoming action in the courts here: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-court-idUSKBN15O2XS

Have we returned to the bad old days of the Know Nothing Party a hundred years ago?  Consider this bit of history from Martin O'Malley, former governor and mayor, that puts today's immigration controversy, especially "sanctuary cities" in context: https://medium.com/@MartinOMalley/the-truth-behind-sanctuary-cities-a40b67f9cd15#.8evmojgmm

Here is a report from Amnesty International on what Syrians who are fleeing there country face: http://www.amnestyusa.org/research/reports/human-slaughterhouse-mass-hangings-and-extermination-at-saydnaya-prison-syria

From the WWII days: