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Pelosi Remarks at Bicameral Press Event on President Trump’s Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Refugee Executive Orders

January 30, 2017

Contact: Drew Hammill/Caroline Behringer, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House and Senate Democrats in front of the steps of the United States Supreme Court at a press event to call on President Trump to reverse his recent hateful, anti-refugee and anti-immigrant executive orders. Below are the Leader's remarks.

"Good evening, everyone. I'm very proud to stand here with the Members of the House Democratic Caucus – soon to be joined by the Senate Democrats, as well – sharing views in a bipartisan way with many of our Republican colleagues who agree that what the President did undermines our values. And it's not in support of the oath of office that we take, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

[This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land]

"Thank you, Joe Crowley, for getting us through the sound here. This land is our land. It's the land of our founders. It's the land of our future. I am proud to be standing here with the Members of the House Democratic Caucus, 100 percent of our House Democratic Leadership. Right? Steny Hoyer, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Sanchez, other Members. We will shortly be joined by colleagues from the Senate, the Senate Democrats.

"But we share a view with our Republican colleagues, that what the President did is not constitutional. Indeed, in the view of many of us, it is immoral. Protect all of us, protect all of us, to take an oath of office and defend the Constitution of the United States. What the President has done is not in the interest of security. It is reckless. It is reckless and rash – to protect our Constitution we must be strong and smart.

"I've now been joined by our distinguished Leader of the United States Senate, Mr. Schumer. We share a view of the importance of the works on the Statue of Liberty. Give me your tired, you poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. You know the rest. It's a statement of values of our country. It's a recognition that the strength of our country is in its diversity that the revitalization of the United States of America comes from our immigrant population.

"It would now be my time to introduce two very brave, determined, optimistic newcomers to our country, but first I'm going to introduce and yield to a champion for the principles embodied in the Statue of Liberty fought for, since our country began, including this weekend, in airports throughout the country. I thank all of you for coming. I ask all of you to welcome the distinguished Leader of the Senate, Chuck Schumer."

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