NCHS students ask LaHood to condemn immigration order

Posted on February 3, 2017

By Adam Studzinski

BLOOMINGTON – A group of local high school students wants U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) to condemn the president’s travel ban.

Normal Community High School student Falicia Jia said the ban is not improving national security.

“There have really been no attacks by any immigrants and refugees from these countries,” said Jia. “Many people in the government have said this is making us less safe and it’s actually increasing more radicalization.

“It has been said it’s almost a victory for some terrorist groups in the Middle East.”

LaHood said everyone needs to understand this executive order is.

“When we look at, again, a small group of countries that have no internal mechanism to vet people and we put in place an added security vetting process, I think you’ve got to balance that with national security,” said LaHood. “That’s what this is.”

LaHood added he spoke out against Trump’s campaign calls to ban Muslim immigrants, and still is against the idea, but said this executive order does not do that.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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