WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, and Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement condemning President Trump’s remarks on Somali immigrants and refugees:

“President Trump’s remarks disparaging Somalia, Somali Americans and Somali immigrants in the United States—including a sitting Member of Congress, Representative Ilhan Omar—are xenophobic and unacceptable. Instead of using the power of the presidency to bring our country together, President Trump chose to attack an American immigrant community, the overwhelming majority of whom are law-abiding and have made many positive contributions to the United States. These comments undercut U.S. interests, stoke anti-American sentiment and create openings for terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab and ISIS to exploit.

“We must reject language that divides Americans and support those immigrants who contribute to our communities, economy and national security,” the Democrats said in a news release.

According to The Guardian newspaper, Trump on Tuesday called Somali immigrants “garbage” and said they should be sent back home in a rant that came as the administration is reportedly increasing immigration enforcement against undocumented Somalis in Minnesota.

“In a xenophobic rant during a cabinet meeting, Trump went off on Somalis and Ilhan Omar, the congressional Representative who is from Somali and is a US citizen. He said Somalia ‘stinks’ and is ‘no good for a reason. They contribute nothing. I don’t want them in our country, I’ll be honest with you,” The Guardian reported.