Dear Representative,
I am writing to you regarding the Refugee Act of 1979. In 1939 a ship named Saint Louis with more than 900 Jewish refugees, fleeing from Nazi Germany, seeking sanctuary arrived on our shores, however, the United States, sent them away. They went back to Europe and more than 250 of these humans died in the Holocaust. Most of the US did not hear about this until after the war. Then following the Vietnam War, Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees fled the political chaos of their homeland, and the limits of the refugee restriction were stopping the United States from offering aid. Congress made a bipartisan effort and brought forth the Refugee Act – which made sure we do not turn away anyone without listening to them when they come asking for asylum.
On Thursday June 25, 2026, Chief Justice John G Roberts, Justice Samuel Alito, Justice Clarence Thomas, Justice Neil M Gorsuch, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, all unelected justices, decided that the Refugee Act does not have to be honored by President Trump. Although Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson did not agree, and they said so, humans in need of aid, can be kept from reaching our shores or border where they can ask for asylum, where they law applies. Our current president welcomes White South African “refugees” but goes out of his way to remove people of color from the United States and now he can prevent asylum claims from being heard.
Congress wrote the Refugee Act. President Jimmy Carter signed it. This law reflected a lesson we had hoped we had learned and did not want to repeat. Now 6 people that We the People did not vote for, have created a work around for a president who has shown us time and time again that he has no respect for our Constitution or the rule of law. This letter is not just about immigration. My argument is stating the fact of another blow against checks and balances. This is another attack against the rule of law. This is another strike against our republic.
Justice Louis Brandeis once said: “We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few. But we can’t have both.”
I have watched Congress allow Trump to do what he wants. Now I am watching justices hand him more power. Where are the checks and balances? As we get closer to our nation’s 250th birthday I really don’t feel like celebrating.
Sincerely,
Summer D Clemenson
~
1
20
20
20
Please wait...
