WASHINGTON, DC – Today, after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to uphold President Trump’s Muslim ban, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

“This ruling is a serious blow to religious freedom.

“The Trump Administration wants to use national security as a shield for bigotry.  But the Muslim ban was never about national security, and to pretend otherwise is a disservice to our brave, principled military, intelligence, and national security professionals who work hard every day to keep our nation safe.  Systematically discriminating against Muslims doesn’t make America safer.  Period.  The Trump Administration should focus on security measures that actually help protect our nation, rather than those that simply pander to his political base.

“Five Republican-appointed Supreme Court Justices agreed with President Trump’s third try at a Muslim ban, but the American people can still hold the president accountable in the court of public opinion. 

“Today, the Trump Administration is targeting Muslims, tomorrow it could be another President targeting another religion.  It is up to all of us to stand up against religious discrimination, or we all risk forfeiting our own religious liberty and the rights of future generations.

“And it’s incumbent upon Congress to serve as a check on the Executive Branch when it tries to discriminate against people based on their religion.  I will work with my colleagues toward a bipartisan legislative solution to check the president’s authority to issue orders like the Muslim ban, and make it clear that Americans still cherish and will safeguard religious freedom, and that bigotry has no home in America.”