Widespread resistance to Trump’s immigration ban continued across the U.S. and world Monday in nearly all sectors of society—from the streets to Silicon Valley to the halls of Washington. More than 200 State Department officials and diplomats have signed on to drafts of a dissent memo that condemns Trump’s executive order. One draft of the memo reads: “This ban stands in opposition to the core American and constitutional values that we, as federal employees, took an oath to uphold. … We have a special obligation to maintain an immigration system that is as free as possible from discrimination, that does not have an implied or actual religious tests, and that views individuals as individuals, not as part of stereotyped groups.” As news of the dissent memo broke Monday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer threatened State Department officials, saying they should quit their jobs if they have a problem with Trump’s “program.”
Press Secretary Sean Spicer: “We’re talking about 109 people from seven countries that the Obama administration identified. And these career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think that they should either get with the program or they can go.”