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France, Germany unite in face of Trump refugee ban

ASSOCIATED PRESS

French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, right, greets his newly appointed German counterpart, Sigmar Gabriel, before talks at the French Foreign Ministry in Paris, France.

PARIS >> France and Germany formed a united front Saturday in the face of President Donald Trump’s halt in the U.S. refugee program, with the German foreign minister noting that loving thy neighbor forms part of America’s Christian traditions.

After meeting Saturday, the foreign ministers of both nations, Jean-Marc Ayrault and Germany’s Sigmar Gabriel, said they want to meet with Rex Tillerson, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state who is still awaiting confirmation.

Ayrault said Trump’s order on Friday that bars all refugees from entering the United States for four months — and those from war-ravaged Syria indefinitely — “can only worry us.”

“We have signed international obligations, so welcoming refugees fleeing war and oppression forms part of our duties,” the French minister said.

“There are many other issues that worry us,” he added. “That is why Sigmar and I also discussed what we are going to do. When our colleague, Tillerson, is officially appointed, we will both contact him.”

Gabriel — on his first trip abroad since his appointment Friday — said offering refuge to the persecuted and those fleeing death are western values that Europe and the United States share.

“Love thy neighbor is part of this tradition, the act of helping others,” he said. “This unites us, we Westerners. And I think that this remains a common foundation that we share with the United States, one we aim to promote.”

Trump declared the ban necessary to prevent “radical Islamic terrorists” from entering the United States.

The order immediately suspended a program that last year resettled to the U.S. roughly 85,000 people displaced by war, political oppression, hunger and religious prejudice.

28 responses to “France, Germany unite in face of Trump refugee ban”

  1. islandsun says:

    Not all neighbors are as they say.

  2. latenightroach says:

    After all the brutal attacks their citizens have suffered through their leaders haven’t learned that there’s a serious risk for being nice.

    • Boots says:

      As if the US hasn’t had its share of attacks. Remember the Federal building in Oklahoma? Does that mean we should send all whites to Gitmo? The US sufferes more unnecessary death than any other industrialized country. Fortunately around 50% of our gun deaths are suicides. Now those are brutal for the survivors.

      • islandsun says:

        You just re-enforced why too much immigrants should not be allowed. We have deep problems with our own people and our efforts should be to help them. Immigrant criminals need to be vetted way better than in past.

  3. Cricket_Amos says:

    The Syrians are war refugees from a war being fought between different elements of their own people.

    Any comparison with the Jews being rounded up and killed in Second World War Europe is absurd and demeaning.

    The truly oppressed in this area, the persecuted, are the Christian, Jew, Yazidi etc.

    Where was “all your love your neighbor” preaching when they were having their heads cut off.

  4. Keonigohan says:

    Actually France & Germany are examples of what America should NOT DO.
    To F & G I say…H E L L NO!

  5. hawaiikone says:

    “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”

    • Cricket_Amos says:

      I do not think that the Muslim refugees are the least of these.

      The least are the Christians, Jews and Yazidis who are having their heads cut off and being burned alive.

      They are not even safe from persecution in the refugee camps.

      • hawaiikone says:

        Theologians have indeed suggested that Jesus was referring to our fellow believers as “the least of these”, although historically the church has accepted the concept that Christ was admonishing us to care for the poor and needy in general. Considering His ministry here on earth, I can’t reject either approach as being a misinterpretation.

    • deepdiver311 says:

      the muslims are not one of our “ohana”
      they profess to kill infidels (non believers)
      unless you one of them?
      auwe as wy hod!

  6. 50skane says:

    Yeh France and Germany you did the same thing after 911, how is that working out for you now! Tell it to all the dead French and German victims of the home grown terrorists that grew up there from the mass refugees you let in.

  7. DrTraffico34 says:

    Smart move hitting a “pause” button on refugees.

  8. AniMatsuri says:

    Missing from the article is France and Germany saying they’ll take in the difference the U.S. has halted for now. They basically united in telling us what to do for the most part.

  9. deepdiver311 says:

    would you feel comfortable if muslims moved into your neighborhood? lots of them? unvetted?
    don’t let a picture of a wounded child fool you. there’s some baad hombres imbedded with the women and children.
    potus tump is right. step back and stop any migration until we can get a handle. secure our borders and take out the enemy out first
    aloha!

  10. Tarball says:

    Complete agreement with noheawilli . . . . . Germany and France wish
    the immigrant problem wasn’t their problem. Ayrault and Gabriel lack PRESIDENT TRUMP’S guts .. . . . doing what’s best for your country.

  11. wave1 says:

    Germany got walls.

  12. KB says:

    how writes all these headlines ? all made to incite something …no perspective ….

  13. 64hoo says:

    85,000 in the U.S. already, what percentage are terrorist waiting for the right time to kill us from within, that way the AP and the press can blame trump for these attacks on us that nerobama let in.

  14. scooters says:

    Yup go ahead and let all those refugees into YOUR Country’s..see what that has gotten you so far?

  15. Marauders_1959 says:

    Ayrault said Trump’s order on Friday that bars all refugees from entering the United States for four months…

    LOL !!!
    Obviously Germany and France will suffer more terrorist attacks from refugees.
    Put out the welcome mat !!!

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