Top Republican lawmakers are distancing themselves from President Donald Trump’s executive order to temporarily bar entry into the United States for citizens from seven countries and refugees, amid confusion over the order’s scope and implementation.
“In light of the confusion and uncertainty created in the wake of the President’s Executive Order, it is clear adjustments are needed,” House Homeland Security Committee chairman Michael McCaul said in a statement Sunday night. “In the future, such policy changes should be better coordinated with the agencies implementing them and with Congress to ensure we get it right.”
McCaul praised the order Friday, along with House speaker Paul Ryan, whose offices have both rebuked criticism that the order is a ‘Muslim ban.’ Ryan has not commented on the order since Friday.
The order bans citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—from entering the United States for 90 days. It also pauses the inflow of refugees for 120 days and bars entry for Syrian refugees until their admission “is consistent with the national interest.” The text sparked chaos and protests at airports across the country, where individuals with valid visas were detained and confusion mounted over how the order applied to green card holders.
“We should not simply turn away individuals who already have lawful U.S. visas or green cards—like those who have risked their lives serving alongside our forces overseas or who call America their home,” McCaul’s statement read.
As confusion surrounding the order escalated, several other top Republicans raised concerns about the text and its implementation.
“We all share a desire to protect the American people, but this executive order has been poorly implemented, especially with respect to green card holders,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker said in a statement.
“The administration should immediately make appropriate revisions, and it is my hope that following a thorough review and implementation of security enhancements that many of these programs will be improved and reinstated.”
Arizona senator John McCain and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham also expressed concern Sunday that the order could threaten national security.
“Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism,” they wrote. “This executive order sends a signal, intended or not, that America does not want Muslims coming into our country. That is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.”
