STERLING, Va. (AP) - President Donald Trump will have no choice but to rescind his travel ban affecting seven mainly Muslim countries because it’s hurting the U.S. economy and America’s standing in the world, Gov. Terry McAuliffe said Friday.
McAuliffe, a Democrat, said after a visit to a northern Virginia mosque that executives from two Muslim-led companies have already canceled business trips to Virginia because of the ban, even though they’re not from the affected nations.
“I know in my bones that President Trump is going to have to back off this order, because I know with this order he has made America less safe, he has hurt our economy,” McAuliffe said. “He is going to have to rescind this order whether he likes it or not.”
McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring drew cheers and applause while speaking to congregants at the ADAMS Center, one of the nation’s largest mosques.
“We are here to send a message to President Trump that we will not stand by for his unlawful, unconstitutional, morally repugnant executive order,” the governor told the congregation. “An attack on the Muslim faith is an attack on all faiths.”
The mosque’s high-profile leader, Imam Mohamed Magid, participated in an interfaith prayer service at the National Cathedral with Trump the day after the inauguration, drawing criticism from some Muslim groups. He said he doesn’t regret it, despite the administration’s ensuing actions, because he wants Muslims to insist upon their place in the American mainstream.
“I will talk to an administration. I will support people protesting,” Magid said. “I want Muslim-Americans to live the full experience of democracy.”
Virginia officials are also taking legal steps to fight the travel ban. Earlier Friday, a federal judge allowed the state to join a lawsuit challenging the ban, potentially allowing the case to affect the rights of tens of thousands of would-be immigrants and visitors. Virginia is challenging the revocation of a wide variety of visas, including student and work visas.
The executive order signed by Trump last week suspends immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries for 90 days and all refugee resettlement for 120 days. It provides exceptions for refugees who practice a religion that makes them a minority in their home country. Trump has said he wanted to give persecuted Christians priority treatment in the refugee program.
Magid and members of his congregation said the order has been upsetting and stressful, even if it has not directly affected them. Suheil Laher, an Islamic scholar who led prayers on Friday, urged people to seek legal, spiritual and psychological help if they need it.
“Keeping your faith in Allah does not mean that you do not take concrete steps to help yourself,” Laher said.
Syed Ashraf, 42, a management consultant from Ashburn, said he was heartened by McAuliffe’s remarks, as he was when he and his two sons joined people of all faiths protesting the travel ban at Dulles International Airport.
“That gave us confidence,” said Ashraf, who was born in India. “Even the kids felt good. We are not just alone.”
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