enator Gary Peters has represented Michigan in Washington, D.C. since 2015. His committee assignments include the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.
By Stephen Coats and Rasheed AlNozili – The Yemeni American News
YAN: Could you elaborate on the March 27th meeting at the Arab American National Museum with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly?
Peters: I thought it was important to bring Secretary Kelly to the community given the rhetoric we have heard from President Trump. It’s very concerning to me, some of the anti-Muslim comments that have been made by President Trump. I invited Secretary Kelly to come personally to have an opportunity to hear directly from the community. I give him credit for fact that he met with the community and that’s an important first step. I want to make sure we are able to have a dialogue with those who are going to be making some decisions going forward
YAN: What is your current position on the peace process in Yemen?
Peters: “There needs to be a political solution. That’s true all over the world; usually, these things are not decided militarily, They are decided by people coming together and figuring out a political way to work together. I’ve been very concerned about indiscriminate bombing.
We have very high civilian casualties as a result of bombing missions from the Saudi Arabians and that’s simply unacceptable. “We need to send a very strong signal to the Saudi Arabian military that civilian casualties, especially the level that we have seen, are simply unacceptable and we don’t want any part of that
YAN: What are you thinking the Senate should do regarding Yemeni refugees?
Peters:“I support the refugee program, I also want to make sure that we keep our country safe. National security is primary and the number one job of the federal government is to keep Americans safe, but we also have an obligation to those that are fleeing terrorism and violence. It is very difficult to come to the United States as a refugee. In fact, probably the most difficult way to come to the United States is through the refugee program. It’s a very long screening process, it takes 18-plus month.
. “I believe that it’s central to our core values as Americans that those who are fleeing persecution and violence have a place to come as a refugee.
YAN: Do you think the president’s Executive order is about religion or keeping our country safe?
Peters: “I think that it was wrong-headed and it’s not about protecting the safety of this country. It’s really about politics”.
“The United States has been, and should always be, a welcoming nation to folks who want to come here legally and to immigrate or to travel here..That is what has made our country great and it’s what is going to continue to make our country great. My mother came in from France, my father met her during the Second World War, he was a soldier and met a beautiful French woman and married her and brought her back to the U.S. I like to think that my family really represents who we are as Americans. My father, we can trace the roots back to the American Revolutionary War. My ancestor was with General George Washington at Valley Forge as part of the Virginia unit”.
“I am the son of an immigrant and I am the son of a soldier in the American Revolutionary War and that is who we are as Americans and if we ever forget that we will lose a core value of what has made this country great. It’s a result of folks who want to come here to live the American dream and work hard.
YAN: What is your stance on local deportation issues?
Peters: “My position has always been that we shouldn’t have local authorities enforce federal rules. We should focus our limited resources on those individuals who are a danger to us, people who have committed crimes, who have engaged in illegal activities in the U.S. That’s where we should focus on deportations, not just a blanket across the board enforcement.
YAN: Are you happy with how the Federal Government has been dealing with the Flint water crisis?
Peters: “The water disaster in Flint, as a result of State government actions that led to the poisoning of individuals there, is an absolutely outrageous situation. “I worked with my colleague Senator [Debbie] Stabenow to get federal money to help pull up some of those pipes, to replace them. I don’t believe that it will be fixed until we actually pull out those old pipes and put in the new pipes.
YAN: Any final words?
Peters: “It’s a pleasure to represent the Arab-American community here in the greater Detroit area. I think part of our strength as the State of Michigan is that we do have vibrant Muslim-American and/Arab-American communities. I am going to do everything that I can to make sure that the community flourishes and is successful.
