WASHINGTON - Attorneys general from 15 U.S. states and the District of Columbia Sunday condemned President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring refugees and seven Muslim-majority countries' citizens from entry into the United States, calling it "unconstitutional, un-American and unlawful."
In a joint statement, the 16 state attorneys general, all Democrats, vowed they will quickly act and "use all of the tools of our offices to fight this unconstitutional order and preserve our nation's national security and core values."
"We are confident that the Executive Order will ultimately be struck down by the courts. In the meantime, we are committed to working to ensure that as few people as possible suffer from the chaotic situation that it has created," they said in the joint statement.
"Together we are the chief legal officers for 130M+ people & we won't hesitate to protect their rights," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman tweeted.
"Let me be clear -- Discrimination based on national origin is illegal," Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement Saturday.
Other state attorneys general are from California, Pennsylvania, Washington, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Virginia, Connecticut, Vermont, Illinois, New Mexico, Iowa, Maine, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Under the executive order Trump signed Friday, refugees from all over the world will be suspended from entering the United States for 120 days while all immigration from so-called "countries with terrorism concerns" will be suspended for 90 days. (Xinhua)