State Senate Democrats Harshly Criticize Order Banning Refugees

Following a weekend of large protests at airports across the country, California Senate Democrats took their outrage at President Donald Trump to the floor today. Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) introduced a lengthy resolution condemning Trump's recent executive order temporarily banning U.S. entry to visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries and to refugees worldwide.

In part, the resolution said that the order "desecrates our American values and panders to fears and nativist instincts..."

The resolution passed on a 26-11 vote, with no Republicans supporting it. Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Temecula) echoed the views of others in his party when he said Trump acted in the interest of national security.

"The president's number one goal is to keep this country safe," he said. Stone rejected the notion that the travel ban discriminated against Muslims.

But de León dismissed such claims.

"The actions of the president are, in fact, anti-Muslim. And if they are anti-Muslim, they are un-American," he said.

The Senate is also pushing quickly ahead with two bills that aim to protect immigrants in the state. 

The first, Senate Bill 54, would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from helping federal immigration officials with deportations. The second, Senate Bill 6, would provide legal services to people facing deportation. Both have committee hearings Tuesday. They are urgency measures, meaning they would take effect immediately should they be signed into law.