ACLU Comment on Trump’s Reported ‘Shithole Countries’ Remark
WASHINGTON — President Trump reportedly opposed including protections for people from Haiti and African countries in an immigration deal, calling those places “shithole countries.” According to media reports, Trump made the comments at a White House meeting about Dreamer legislative negotiations, asking why he should allow immigrants in from those countries rather than places like Norway.
Lorella Praeli, American Civil Liberties Union director of immigration policy and campaigns, said:
“President Trump has been consistently honest about the white nationalism behind his immigration policies. His latest salvo is directly contrary to the decision Congress made in 1965 to do away with the racist per-country quotas of the past and bring our immigration policies in line with the civil rights era.
“The crisis facing Dreamers, manufactured by the Trump White House, is an urgent one. It is incumbent on responsible members of Congress to stand up for a different vision of our country, to reject attempts to derail legislative progress, and to deliver on the urgently needed legislative solution for Dreamers.”
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The Latest in Immigrants' Rights
-
Will Customs and Border Protection's Revised Vehicle Pursuit Policy Make Us Safer?
-
Broken Promises: Trump-era Travel Bans Keep Thousands Trapped in Limbo
-
Immigrants’ Rights Organizations Reach Settlement in Case Brought to Protect Medically Vulnerable People Detained by ICE
-
Voting and Immigrants’ Rights Advocates Sue Over New Florida Law That Targets Voter Registration, Civic Engagement, and Political Speech
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Immigrants' Rights
The fundamental constitutional protections of due process and equal protection embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights apply to every person, regardless of immigration status.