Please attribute the following statement to Mayor Sylvester Turner following the expanded travel ban initiated by the White House.
“I am deeply concerned that the White House has expanded the travel ban to six new countries. Public safety should be a top priority at every level of government, but there is no room in a civil society to ban travel to the United States based on a country’s predominant religion, race or culture. The rationale for the expansion of the travel ban cannot be based on discrimination.
“Houston has more than 150,000 residents of Nigerian descent which is one of the largest Nigerian communities in the United States.
“Our city is the national leader in refugee resettlement These immigrants and refugees contribute greatly to our economy, our culture, and as our neighbors.
“They come here seeking freedom and opportunity. They find it in Houston. We are glad to welcome them to our city.”
