Pakistani-American Republican defends Trump’s immigration policies

DALLAS: Pakistani-American Muslim Republican and Mayor of Paris Texas Dr. Arjumand Hashmi who supported  Donald Trump in his presidential campaign has said that American Muslims should not be worried about president's immigration policies and travel ban on Muslim countries.

“Reason for the executive order banning people from seven Muslim majority countries is that these countries don’t have credible government institutions which makes it difficult to process  information regarding the people willing to enter US, he said while talking to Jang/Geo at his residence.

Hashmi dispelled the notion that the executive order was an action aimed at Muslims.

Citing an example, he said that Kuwait has stopped issuing visas for Pakistanis, similarly Saudis also have put restrictions on visas for Pakistani workers. .

 He said that this was merely a coincidence that the countries mentioned in the executive order were all Muslim majority nations.

“ Trump has taken strong position against Mexico and  Mexico is not a Muslim country”.

 He said that a better strategy would have been to see why these steps are taken. Dr. Hashmi said that Pakistani passport has a place for religion but there is none in American passport.

He said if an immigration officer asks you what is your religion then what is wrong in answering the question. “If someone asks me what my religion is, I would proudly answer I am a Muslim”.

He said that he recently came back from Pakistan and the custom officer asked him why he went to Pakistan. “I answer the question and the custom officer returned my  passport saying welcome back”.  

Responding to a question, he said that inquiry by custom officers is not harassment.

“Their interrogation is to see if the person entering the US is the right person”.  If you are innocent, then you don’t have to be worried about anything.”

Hashmi said he considers the executive order was little hard and abrupt.

He said Pakistani Americans should not be worried at all. “If you are good citizen with clean record, then you need not worry. If they ask you questions at the airport then there is no harm in answering .This is your country too, and you should also make it as secure as it can be”.