BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said she’s considering all legal options in response to President Donald Trump’s reworked travel ban issued Monday.
The Democrat described the revised ban as “a clear attempt to resurrect a discredited order and fulfill a discriminatory and unconstitutional campaign promise.”
“My office remains opposed to this misguided policy and will consider all legal options to protect our residents, our institutions and our businesses in Massachusetts,” Healey said in a statement.
The scaled-back version of the ban would bar new visas for citizens from six Muslim-majority countries and temporarily shut down America’s refugee program. The first ban was put halted last month by a federal judge in Washington state.
Gov. Charlie Baker, who like Trump is a Republican, said he hadn’t yet seen the ban. But he said Massachusetts is part of a global economy.
“We’re a welcoming state, and a huge part of our success as a commonwealth - culturally, economically and just generally - is based on the fact that we have a lot of people in this country who bring points of view and perspectives from around the world to their work and to their communities,” Baker said.
Healey, who joined a lawsuit over the original version of the ban, wasn’t the only Massachusetts Democrat voicing opposition to Trump’s plan.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey called the ban discriminatory and said it will serve as a “recruitment tool” for terrorists. U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton said the ban targets men, women and children fleeing violence and persecution by terrorists.
U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy said Trump has “doubled down on fear, division and prejudice” with “his second attempt at a Muslim and refugee ban.”
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, who previously said he would use Boston City Hall as a last resort to shelter anyone who felt threatened by Trump’s first version of the ban, said the city will continue to stand by its immigrant community.
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