Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 95 • Issue 16 • February 3, 2017
THE MAROON FOR A GREATER LOYOLA
COMMUNITY TRUMPS TRAVEL BAN
RICCARDO MUZZETTO and BOBBIE GREEN / The Maroon
Community leaders across New Orleans speak out against President Donald Trump's travel ban and choose instead to stand together and support the nation's diversity By Jessica Molina and Starlight Williams jgmolina@loyno.edu & slwillia@loyno.edu @jmolina217 & @star_lightw
When President Donald Trump released an executive order banning citizens of several Muslimmajority countries from entering the U.S., Mariarenee Contreras was afraid. Not for herself, but for her best friend, whose religion may have an impact on how she exists in the U.S. As a result, Contreras, first-year law student at Loyola University College of Law, is one of the many people worldwide protesting the ban. “I went to the protest for my best friend,” Contreras said. “She's from Pakistan, but she is also a Muslim. To me, the idea of her being discriminated just because of her faith is terrible and heartbreaking when she is the most loving and giving person I know. I know she is not from any of the countries listed, but
if I knew I could not see her because of an inhumane act, it would simply devastate me.” As of right now, President Trump's executive order bars those who are from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen from entering the country for the next 90 days and suspends all refugee admission for the next 120 days. The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, released a statement to the Loyola community in response to the executive order. He emphasized that Trump's order affected everyone in the Loyola community, regardless of their religious affiliation or country of origin. “Although only a few in our community have been directly impacted, this order is something that affects us all to our core. Not only is the turning away of refugees in direct conflict with our Catholic, Jesuit values, but it also is contrary to our American ideals and constitutional rights as a free country,” Wildes said in the statement. Wildes continued that based on our values as an institution, the Loyola community must not be si-
Outside of Loyola's community, lent. “Loyola University New Orleans the citizens of New Orleans have not takes pride in our commitment to accepted the executive order easily. Protests began in New Orleans on social responsibility and stands beside our community of faculty and Sunday, Jan. 29. On Monday, Jan 30., students. We are a nation built by the New Orleans Palestinian Soliimmigrants, and it is our duty as darity Committee held a news conChristians to welcome refugees to ference in front of New Orleans City Hall for citizens America,” Wildes and city officials to said in the state“The President’s execu- discuss their fears ment. and show support Shortly after tive order is un-Amerifor those affected the release of the by the order. executive order, can, un-Christian and Mayor Mitch the Loyola com- will not make us safer.” Landrieu also munity rallied spoke out in a press together to assist — Mitch Landrieu release, calling those in need of Mayor of New Orleans Trump’s executive aid. order “un-AmeriMembers of the Jesuit Social Research Institute have can and un-Christian.” “New Orleans will remain a welreached out to Loyola students for the Congress of Day Laborers to ask coming city because we know that for volunteers to accompany immi- our diversity is a strength. We also grants on orders of supervision to know all too well what it feels like their Immigration and Customs En- to seek shelter and refuge in a place that is not your home,” Landrieu forcement appointments. Professors at the Loyola Law Clin- said in the statement. Landrieu said that history shows ic have offered to help any student, staff or faculty member affected by what happens when specific groups are targeted and discriminated the order.
against and hopes that the U.S. will learn from the past. “Some of the darkest times in our nation’s history were when immigrants, minorities, refugees or the most vulnerable among us were discriminated against by our government. History will judge this as one of those times if we do not act. I hope that President Trump will reconsider his decision. America deserves better,” Landrieu said in the release. For Contreras, she said she knows that the battle has only just begun and looks forward to using her legal education to help advocate for people like her best friend. “For law students, it is our time to get as much knowledge as we can because we are responsible for the legal future of our country,” Contreras said. “This is the time that lawyers and anyone in the legal profession has to push forward despite the obstacles that are being thrown. It's a start that she blocked the executive order, but it is not enough. These are the lives of the children, mothers and fathers on the line that deserve a chance to live.”