Angelina Jolie has criticised the decision to stop refugees entering the US, arguing it will not make the country safer.

The actress and UN special envoy spoke out against Donald Trump's decision to prevent refugees from entering the US in an editorial for the New York Times.

Image: Jolie talks to children on a visit to a refugee camp

Writing in the paper, Jolie, 41, said the President's travel ban risked fuelling extremism abroad and creating "more instability, hatred and violence.

"Refugees are men, women and children caught in the fury of war, or the cross hairs of persecution.

"Far from being terrorists, they are often the victims of terrorism themselves."


Mr Trump's executive order also bars nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US.

It sparked protests in the US and worldwide but has been hailed as "a great success" by the President's team.

Image: The 41-year-old has six children with actor Brad Pitt, who she is divorcing

Jolie, who was made special envoy for refugees by the UN in 2012, said: "The global refugee crisis and the threat from terrorism make it entirely justifiable that we consider how best to secure our borders.

"Every government must balance the needs of its citizens with its international responsibilities. But our response must be measured and should be based on facts, not fear."

The actress is in the middle of a divorce from her husband Brad Pitt with whom she has six children.

Speaking of her family she said her children were "all born in foreign lands and are proud American citizens".

She added: "If we send a message that it is acceptable to close the door to refugees, or to discriminate among them on the basis of religion, we are playing with fire," she said.

"We are lighting a fuse that will burn across continents, inviting the very instability we seek to protect ourselves against."

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Jolie is one of many Hollywood stars to criticise the ban since it was introduced.

"Every time we depart from our values we worsen the very problem we are trying to contain," she said.

"We must never allow our values to become the collateral damage of a search for greater security. Shutting our door to refugees or discriminating among them is not our way, and does not make us safer."