Former Iraqi Translator On Why He Supports Trump’s Immigration Ban Johnny Walker, author, "Code Name: Johnny Walker: The Extraordinary Story of the Iraqi Who Risked Everything To Fight with the U.S. Navy SEALs"

Transcript for audioclip 33394

The protests and outrage over President Trump's executive action to ban refugees from entering the U.S. continue.

Civil rights and Muslim groups have sued over the order that would temporarily stop refugees and citizens from seven predominantly Muslim nations from coming to the U.S.

But one Iraqi immigrant living in San Diego has been outspoken in his support for the President's executive order.

"Johnny Walker" served alongside U.S. Navy SEALs during the Iraq War as an interpreter. "Johnny Walker" isn’t his real name. It's the code name the SEALs gave him and he still uses it, he said, to protect his extended family in Iraq.

“I want to feel safe in this country,” Walker said. “I do not want to carry my gun again and protect my family. I do not want to sleep with my AK-47 underneath my pillow waiting for somebody to attack me or attack my family. I do not want to have that feeling again, the same feeling I had back in Iraq.”

In 2009, he was granted a U.S. visa under a special program for Iraqi interpreters and now calls San Diego home.

Walker describes his experience, including his time as translator for well-known Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, in his book "Code Name: Johnny Walker".

Walker discusses his stance on Trump’s recent immigration actions Tuesday on Midday Edition.

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