{"id":77468,"date":"2017-02-03T19:17:23","date_gmt":"2017-02-04T00:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=77468"},"modified":"2017-02-02T19:21:41","modified_gmt":"2017-02-03T00:21:41","slug":"schneiderman-files-suit-against-trumps-immigration-executive-order","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=77468","title":{"rendered":"Schneiderman files suit against Trump’s immigration executive order"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Attorny_General_Eric_T_Schneiderman\"<\/a><\/strong>A.G. Submits Motion To Intervene And Proposed Complaint To Join Eastern District Of NY Lawsuit Detailing President Trump\u2019s Intent To Discriminate Against Muslims, Chaotic Implementation Of The Order, And The Profound Harm Caused To NY\u2019s Families, Economy, And Institutions<\/em><\/p>\n

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today filed a motion to join a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump\u2019s immigration Executive Order. As the complaint states, Attorney General Schneiderman \u201cbrings this action to protect the rights of New York residents; the economic welfare, health, and well-being of its citizenry; and the interests of New York\u2019s employers, hospitals, and educational institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur proposed complaint describes how President Trump\u2019s executive order is not only unconstitutional and fundamentally un-American, but also how it does profound harm to our families, our economy, and our educational and health care institutions,\u201d said Attorney General Schneiderman<\/strong>. \u201cPresident Trump\u2019s intent to discriminate against Muslims is clear. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to fight this discriminatory ban and protect all those caught in the crossfire of its chaotic implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The motion was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York.<\/p>\n

The Proposed Complaint\u2019s central allegations include the following:<\/p>\n

Intent to Discriminate Against Muslims<\/strong><\/p>\n

The First Amendment\u2019s Establishment Clause forbids the government from favoring or disfavoring particular religions.<\/p>\n

As Attorney General Schneiderman\u2019s proposed complaint describes, President Trump has made many statements demonstrating his intent to discriminate against Muslims on the basis of their religion, including by banning the entry of Muslims into the United States. The proposed complaint also describes comments from President Trump and his surrogates after signing the Executive Order, which made clear the restrictions were targeted to Muslims, including Rudolph Giuliani\u2019s January 28th statement:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you the whole history of it. So when [President Trump] first announced it, he said \u2018Muslim ban.\u2019 He called me up. He said, \u2018Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.\u2019 . . . . And what we did was, we focused on, instead of religion, danger \u2014 the areas of the world that create danger for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conflicting and Changing Interpretation and Implementation<\/strong><\/p>\n

The proposed complaint goes on to describe the conflicting and changing interpretations and implementation of President Trump\u2019s executive order by the federal government, including as it relates to lawful permanent residents and dual nationals. The \u201csweeping breadth and lack of clarity\u201d of the order has resulted in inconsistent implementation by immigration authorities \u2014\u00a0and has jeopardized the health and safety of the families caught up by these uncertainties.<\/p>\n

Profound Harm to New York<\/strong><\/p>\n

New York is home to over 4.4 million foreign-born residents (22.5 percent of the state\u2019s population), including 15,000 people born in one of the seven affected countries. The Attorney General\u2019s proposed complaint alleges that the Executive Order has \u201csignificantly harmed the overall health and well-being of New York and its people, as well as its business interests and economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the proposed complaint describes, the travel ban adversely affects various business sectors, institutions and individuals in New York State.<\/p>\n