To the Editor:

President Trump recently shut down the U.S. refugee system and placed a ban on all immigration from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen.

This affects about 130 million people and has caused backlash against the United States from around the world.

Prior to Trump’s immigration and refugee ban, the United States had what the State Department called the “most exhaustive background system of any country in the world.” The vetting process for any individual refugee included background checks, interviews in their home country, interviews with acquaintances, examinations of social media footprints, and many other procedures.

Oftentimes, the total process took more than two years to complete, and as a result no Syrian refugee admitted to the United States under this system has ever been accused of terrorist activities.

But in spite of the success of this pre-existing vetting process, the Trump administration insisted on implementing a policy that blocks millions of people from coming to the United States, based only on their nationality and regardless of whether or not they have terroristic tendencies.

It applies to everyone from people who have already legally obtained visas to the United States, to those who have been undergoing the vetting process.

This kind of blanket ban on specific Middle Eastern countries harms our relations abroad and attacks the principle that people should be judged on their merit rather than their country of origin.

Of course, safety from terrorist attacks matters, but an indiscriminate ban on all immigration from a handful of countries creates far more problems than it solves, and it can seriously harm the integrity of civil rights in the United States — especially if it’s the first step to a national Muslim registry or ban.

If you don’t like this policy, then advocate against it. Contact your congressional representatives, senators, state legislators, and government officials and urge them to fight it. Voice your opinion and demand to be heard.

Jennifer Zhang

Potsdam