Opinion: Sally Yates’ resistance to Trump and firing is a profile in courage

To the editor: The ordeal of Sally Yates, the former acting U.S. attorney general who was fired Monday by President Trump after she refused to defend his travel ban in court, is a profile in courage. (“Travel order and firing of acting Atty. Gen. Sally Yates roils Justice Department,” Feb. 1)

During her Senate confirmation hearings, she was asked by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) how she would act if then President Obama asked her to do something she thought was unconstitutional. She answered that she would uphold the Constitution above all else. She was confirmed with 83 votes.

Believing that Trump’s immigration order was unconstitutional, she did as she had promised she would do. His firing of her shows he is steering this country toward autocracy.

Christopher Reutinger, La Quinta

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To the editor: Since Trump wants to protect the U.S. from terrorism by banning immigrants from certain countries, perhaps he should expand his list.

Most of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, but I don’t see that country on the list. One of the San Bernardino shooters was from Pakistan, which is also not on the list. Orlando, Fla., shooter Omar Mateen was from Hyde Park, N.Y. His wife, just recently arrested, is from California. OK, but their parents came from Afghanistan and Palestine, respectively — two more entries.

Let’s not forget the recent killing of six people in a mosque in Quebec City by a French Canadian. Maybe we can let the English-speaking Canadians come, but those French Canadians apparently harbor terrorists, so they’re out. And let’s not forget the Oklahoma City bombing that killed more than 150 people. Those two terrorists were ... American.

Oh dear, this is getting really confusing. Maybe we should think about it some more.

Debra Kaufman, Venice

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To the editor: After 9/11, an unprecedented, disruptive nationwide security measure was imposed. For two days, almost all flights were grounded so that security could be reassessed.

Is it that extraordinary to have a 120-day restriction on travelers from high-risk countries? I think it is reasonable.

Steven Sims, Brentwood

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