Travel ban violates connection

Our CEO, Elder Suzanne P. Kelly, shared this statement in response to the Executive Order of June 4, 2025, banning travel to the U.S. from certain countries:

"As Minnesota Council of Churches watches a continued assault on refugees, immigrants, BIPOC communities, and more, we wholeheartedly oppose the latest executive order to ban travel from 12 countries, most on them on the continents of Asia and Africa, or whose residents represent the African diaspora.

 

"Minnesota Council of Churches builds the common good in the world. One way we have done so is by connecting people across their differences - including connecting Christian faith communities in our state with new Minnesotans from across the globe for support, friendship and stability. We led opposition to the Muslim travel ban in January 2017, which targeted five of the same countries on this executive order’s list. We continue to oppose any efforts to bar individuals from coming to the United States based on religion, race, or any other arbitrary criteria. We reject the notion that people from these countries are more likely to be threats to national security or pose terrorism concerns."

 

-Elder Suzanne P. Kelly, CEO