Trump's Muslim ban will make us less safe

Donald Trump continues to show why he is the least qualified person ever to occupy the White House. On Friday, he signed an executive order banning residents of seven Middle Eastern countries from entering the United States. Those countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya Sudan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. Predictably, the order created chaos worldwide, as people found themselves either turned back before the could board planes headed for the U.S. or detained once they reached American soil. In at least a dozen cases, people who had legally been granted entry to our country found that access denied. Among those was a man who had risked his own life acting as an interpreter for U.S. troops in Iraq. Another man was detained after he came here trying to rejoin his wife and young child who are already here. And this doesn't even take into account those who have lived here peacefully for years who were denied reentry after they left the United States to go visit family living in other countries. Trump, of course, defended his order by saying it was necessary to protect Americans and keep terrorists out of our country. But he is wrong on every count.
   To begin with, the United States already has a stringent process in place for vetting potential immigarants. On average, it can take up to two years before someone who has applied for a visa can obtain one, sometimes longer. During this time, the potential immigrant is subject to all manner of background check, from criminal to financial. And if you want to talk citizenship, there are several lengthy steps that must be taken, from obtaining a green card, to becoming a permanent resident alien to finally obtaining full citizenship. During this process, they continue to be vetted. They must learn the basics of our history and how our government works. They must pass a test. Then, and only then, are they granted full citizenship. So Trump's action is unnecessary
   Another problem with Trump's action is that it is blatantly unconstitutional. Why? Because it singles out people based solely on their religion. It is illegal under federal law to discriminate against people based on their religion. And this action goes against both the spirit and intent of this law. Trump's action also fails to take into account that it's not only the Muslim extremists who are our enemies. Anyone remember Timothy McVeigh? He was a homegrown terrorist who killed 168 men, women and children. How about Eric Rudolph, the Olympic bomber? The point is, we have enemies everywhere. And not every enemy we face is a Muslim.
   Finally, there's the inconvenient fact that Trump's action will do nothing to keep us safe. Consider the fact that the 19 hijackers on 9/11 hailed from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, among others. None of these countries is on the "banned" list, and yet their citizens perpetrated the greatest act of terror ever seen in this country. So why aren't they on the list, along with the seven "banned" countries?"
   Some might say that Trump is simply fulfilling one of his campaign promises. That might be true, but the truth is, his action is nothing more than window dressing. It will do nothing to keep us safe, as there are many countries that sponsor terror that remain unaffected. And let's not mention the fact that this move will only further anger the governments in the Middle East, many of whom already don't like us or trust us. Add the fact that this ban will likely end up being used as a recruitment tool for future terrorists, and it becomes obvious that instead of making us safer, Trump has actually made us less safe. And it is our country and its citizens who will ultimately pay the price.