To the editor:

I believe in the Constitution of the United States of America. I believe also that we should support our troops and our veterans. I believe that when someone supports our troops by providing essential and honorable service for years, that we should support them, and if they suffer harm or threat because of their support for the United States, then we are morally obligated to help them and their family. It’s just the right thing to do.

For this reason, I am appalled by the executive order of our president that has caused Iraqi citizens with valid visas to be detained at our border, including a 10-year veteran of assisting our efforts in his country. This individual was eventually released after 19 hours of detention (see the New York Times for the details), but not yet released as I write this is another thoroughly vetted individual. There is confusion all around the world as even green card holders are refused the right to return to their homes, their wives, their children. This is affecting faculty, staff, and students here in the Copper Country.

The Constitution says that there shall be no state religion in the United States. The executive order of our president has violated this: the countries whose citizens are banned are Muslim majority countries and his executive order explicitly allows minority religious groups to be admitted. This is discrimination based on religion. Our Constitution, which we hold dear, rightly does not permit discrimination based on religion. All who support the Constitution should be appalled. We should with one voice call for the executive order to be rescinded.

Faith Morrison

Hancock