Astorino to Muslims: 'You are welcome here'

Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino told a group of more than 100 Muslims on Friday that he would withdraw his support of President Trump's immigration travel ban if he believed it targeted Muslims because of their religious faith.

But Astorino, who spoke to worshipers at the mosque at the Andalusia Islamic School in Yonkers, said he does not believe the ban constitutes "a religious test."

“I stand here beside you today and every day to reaffirm our friendship, to let you know that as the county’s top elected official, that not only are you welcome here, but that the contributions of our Muslim-American community are essential to us," Astorino said.

“You are the American dream," he said. "Please know, and make no mistake about it, I would never support a religious test on who comes into our country. Careful screening of all people, yes. Religious test for some? No."

Astorino has a longstanding relationship with the Yonkers school and mosque. He has attended graduation there for over six years and named a faculty member to the county's Human Rights Commission, the second Muslim-American he has appointed to the commission.

Nonetheless, his stance on Trump's immigration order, which banned residents from seven predominantly Muslim nations, is in contrast with the belief by many in the Muslim community, including those at the Yonkers school, that it targets them for their religious beliefs.

Tariq Abdullah, public relations director for the Muslim-American Society of Upper New York, said the society and the school nonetheless consider Astorino a friend and ally, and said any disagreement over the travel ban was part of "an ongoing dialogue."

“We, as Muslim-Americans strongly believe that Muslims are unfairly being targeted by this ban," Abdullah said. "There’s no question about that. But at the same time, we want people like Rob and others to come and explain to us and give us their point of view so we can work together towards preventing any type of persecution or targeting of any group.”

“He’s definitely saying one thing, which is very clear and there’s no question about it, that if this ban is proven to be, in his eyes, as a ban against Muslims, targeting Muslims, he would never support that," he said. "We respect everybody’s opinion on their positions. We’re not here to impose ourselves. We’re here to make it very clear where we stand.”