Refugee answer disappointing

I was one of the constituents who asked a question of Rep. McMorris Rodgers during her telephone town hall meeting. In her opening remarks, she referred to President Trump as a “positive disruptor.” In my question, I asked her to use her position to educate people about the rigorous process refugees go through to come here and to reassure members of Spokane’s refugee and Muslim community who are feeling vulnerable in the hostile atmosphere created by President Trump’s rhetoric. I pointed out that for these constituents, the president is not a positive disruptor.

In answering, she talked about meeting with refugees earlier in the day. She said that although the president’s executive order hadn’t been executed well, she did favor a pause in our immigration policies. I was disappointed that she didn’t call for more responsible rhetoric and a more just policy from the president, especially since she herself spoke of the need for common ground and tolerance during the phone meeting, calling for people to get out of “campaign mode.”

However, President Trump is still holding campaign rallies and falsely linking refugees to terrorism. We need better from Congress. Unfortunately, no follow-up questions were permitted.

Erin Davis

Spokane