Washington Democrats to Trump: Immigration order hurts state, country
OLYMPIA – Legislative Democrats wrote to the Republican president Tuesday, objecting to his order limiting immigration from seven Middle East countries.
The three Democratic lawmakers from Spokane – Sen. Andy Billig and Reps. Timm Ormsby and Marcus Riccelli – joined with 71 others in denouncing the order, saying it could harm the economy, makes the county less safe and “contravenes core American values.”
The letter asks President Trump to comply with all federal court orders addressing his executive order. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the constitutionality of the executive order, and asking a federal judge to place it on hold. A hearing on that request for a temporary restraining order is scheduled for Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
After Ferguson and Gov. Jay Inslee announced the lawsuit Monday, state Republican Party Chairwoman Susan Hutchison called it a play for attention, defending Trump’s order as an attempt to secure borders and make the country safer, which voters support.
