News Local/State

Illinois Attorney General Issues Statement Condemning Refugee Ban

 
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

In this Feb. 4, 2015 photo Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan looks on before Gov. Bruce Rauner delivers his first State of the State address at the state Capitol in Springfield, Ill. Madigan issued a statement Sunday condemning President Trump's recent Executive Order on immigration. Seth Perlman / Associated Press

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan issued a statement today condemning President Trump's Executive Order on immigration.  The statement was issued in conjuntion with attorneys general in 15 other states.

Here is the statement in full:

"As the chief legal officers for over 130 million Americans and foreign residents of our states, we condemn President Trump's unconstitutional, unAmerican and unlawful Executive Order and will work together to ensure the federal government obeys the Constitution, respects our history as a nation of immigrants, and does not unlawfully target anyone because of their national origin or faith.

Religious liberty has been, and always will be, a bedrock principle of our country and no president can change that truth.

Yesterday, multiple federal courts ordered a stay of the Administration’s dangerous Executive Order. We applaud those decisions and will 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.”

Madigan issued the statement with attorneys general from California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.