Activists hung a ‘refugees welcome’ banner at the base of the Statue of Liberty on Tuesday (February 21). Measuring 3ft by 20ft, it was unfurled and attached to a pedestal around 1pm, and was removed by National Park police an hour later. The authorities are now trying to find out who was involved.

Speaking to Fusion, an activist going by the name of David said: “This was first conceived in response to what’s been called the ‘travel ban’ of the Trump administration, which I think flies in the face of the founding principles of the United States.”

An activist group called ‘Alt Lady Liberty’ told CNN that they were responsible for the action. “Almost all Americans have descendants from somewhere else,” they said in a joint statement. “Immigrants and refugees make this country great. And turning away refugees, like we did to Anne Frank, does not make us great. Refugees are welcome here, Muslims are welcome here and immigrants are welcome here.

“And it’s not just our ancestors. Every American knows an immigrant or a refugee. We wanted to send a reminder about America when we’re at our best — the country that's a beacon of freedom to the world, built by immigrants. Walling off countries or entire religions is against our values. That’s what the Statue of Liberty stands for.”

Trump is expected to sign another executive order which will revive the plan to ban immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries. It is said by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly that it will be a “tighter, more streamlined version” of the first executive order, which was halted by the Supreme Court after mass protest.