Monterey County supervisors formally oppose Trump immigration order
On Tuesday, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution opposing President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration, including a travel ban on seven countries.
On Monday, KION spoke with the supervisor behind a resolution and members of our local Muslim community.
Supervisor Jane Parker called for the board to take an official stand on Trump’s executive order banning travelers from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya as discriminatory, detrimental to the county, and undermining American values.
“My even wife, first day, she was not able to sleep, even though our country’s name was not in,” Monterey County resident Agha Bilal said.
Bilal and his family immigrated to America 30 years ago from Pakistan, a country not on president Trump’s black list. But he said the travel ban still hits home.
“She has a lot of friends, from Syria, and Egypt and Iraq,” Bilal said.
He’s worried for their friends and others they’ve come to care about.
“They are in our congregation, over here, and we pray with them every day. I can feel the person who I’m knowing for the last one year, and he is a very law abiding citizen,” Bilal said
But Bilal has a more cautious tone when talking about the president’s executive order.
“If the law passed by the Congress and approved in the Senate, and then there’s no hurdle from the Supreme Court, then what choices do I have other than to obey it,” Bilal said.
Still members of Monterey County Board of Supervisors are choosing to fight against this ban saying it undermines American values.
“It’s very chilling that this kind of policy could be enacted in our country, which is based on religious freedom and welcomes people from all nations,” said Supervisor Jane Parker.
Parker drafted the resolution for a special meeting on Tuesday.
“We are seeing something that really goes against everything that we kind of grew up believing, about respecting people of all backgrounds, people of all faith,” Supervisor Luis Alejo said.
So for now, Bilal and others say they can do is pray for the president.
“That god gives him good health, forgive his sins, as mine,” Bilal said.
KION also spoke with members of the Monterey County Republican Party, who say they support President Trump’s decision. They argue that this will give the administration the time it needs to come up with another plan.
