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Some Top Republicans in Congress Criticize Trump's Refugee Policy New York Times WASHINGTON Some top Republicans stepped up their criticism of President Trump's newly enacted refugee policy on Sunday even as party leaders in Congress continued to show restraint. Mr. Trump's executive order, which targets Syrian refugees and ... Trump Spars With Republican Senators McCain and Graham After They Criticize Travel BanABC News Republicans call Trump's travel ban 'a self-inflicted wound'The Guardian Republicans say US travel ban may help terroristsJerusalem Post Israel News Senator John McCain - US Senate all 87 news articles »

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Some Top Republicans in Congress Criticize Trump's Refugee Policy - New York Times

Asked by CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" if she was surprised that Republican officials "had been so quiet" about Trump's executive order, Navarro replied that it had been "an emotionally exhausting week."

"I have friends telling me,' I disagree with this. It is an un-American executive order. But I can't survive politically if I'm confronting the man every day,'" she said.

But now is no time, Navarro insisted, for Republicans to not "speak up" against what she dubbed "the steady rain of things they have to confront."

"As exhausted as they may be, Republicans need to appeal to their sense of consciousness. To their principles. To what is right and wrong. To American values. And they need to speak up," Navarro insisted,

"The Republican Party I grew up in was a Republican Party of family unity," Navarro recalled.

"What we saw yesterday were families being torn apart. What we saw yesterday was violations of the Constitution. We don't treat different people (in) different ways. We don't impose a religious test," she said.

As for those who fought back against the idea that Trump's executive order, which limits the access of nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, was a "Muslim ban," Navarro was clear.

"I'll tell you who thinks it's a Muslim ban, Muslims think it's a Muslim ban," she declared.

Americans should look at those celebrating the executive order for proof as to the real intentions of the order, Navarro argued, referencing David Duke and Trump's national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

"Those who want a Muslim ban like ... Flynn and David Duke, the former KKK leader, are celebrating it as a Muslim ban," she added.

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Ana Navarro: Republicans need to 'speak up' - CNN

Following President Trumps executive order on immigration, several Republicans have weighed in on the policy, which halts the U.S. intake of refugees and pauses travel to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries.

Some, like House Speaker Paul Ryan, have shown their support for the White House directive, signed Friday.

Others, like Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham, have knocked the policy as dangerous to American national security interests. (And theyve drawn fire for their stance, most noticeably from President Trump himself.)

Still others have expressed wary concern but have yet to outright condemn the travel ban, which Mr. Trump and his administration insists is not about religion.

CBS News is keeping a running tally of all the GOP legislators that have commented on the ban so far. Take a look below to see how Republicans have responded:

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, wrote in a statement that it was overly broad and that its implementation would be problematic.

It could interfere with the immigration of Iraqis who worked for American forces in Iraq as translators and body guards -- people who literally saved the lives of our troops and diplomats during the last decade and whose lives are at risk if they remain in Iraq, Collins said.

She added, of Mr. Trumps comments that the U.S. refugee policy would give priority to persecuted Christians in the Middle East, that a preference should not be given to people who practice a particular religion, nor should a greater burden be imposed on people who practice a particular religion.

[R]eligious tests serve no useful purpose in the immigration process and run contrary to our American values, Collins wrote.

Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, called the executive order poorly implemented.

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, 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.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, said that parts of the ban were unacceptable:

President Trump and his administration are right to be concerned about national security, but its unacceptable when even legal permanent residents are being detained or turned away at airports and ports of entry, Flake wrote ina Medium post. Enhancing long term national security requires that we have a clear-eyed view of radical Islamic terrorism without ascribing radical Islamic terrorist views to all Muslims.

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, said in a statement to the Washington Post that the ban goes too far:

While I am supportive of strengthening our screening processes and securing our borders, a blanket travel ban goes too far, Gardner said. I also believe that lawful residents of the United States should be permitted to enter the country. I urge the administration to take appropriate steps to fix this overly broad executive order.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, wrote in a joint statement with Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, that the ban may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security:

Our government has a responsibility to defend our borders, but we must do so in a way that makes us safer and upholds all that is decent and exceptional about our nation. It is clear from the confusion at our airports across the nation that President Trumps executive order was not properly vetted, the two said. Such a hasty process risks harmful results...Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism.

Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, told CBS Face the Nation of his concerns about the bans impact on national security:

It is a confused process, which the good news is that its only got to do with a pause. The bad news is that, obviously, this process and these conclusions were not vetted, McCain said Sunday. There are so many questions that -- for example, it didnt filter down to our customs people who can come in, who cant.Is a green card holder, as was originally interpreted, who is legally in this country, can that person be barred from coming into the country?

He pointed to a talk he had with Gen. David Petraeus, the former CIA director, where he said he was very concerned about the special visas for those interpreters whose lives are literally in danger as we speak, that they would not be allowed to come into our country.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, charged that the vetting proposal itself needed more vetting in a statement.

More scrutiny of those traveling from war-torn countries to the United States is wise. But this broad and confusing order seems to ban legal, permanent residents with green cards, and might turn away Iraqis, for example, who were translators and helped save lives of Americans troops and who could be killed if they stay in Iraq, Alexander wrote. And while not explicitly a religious test, it comes close to one which is inconsistent with our American character.

Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, said in a statement that the executive action was too broad:

There are two ways to lose our generational battle against jihadism by losing touch with reality. The first is to keep pretending that jihadi terrorism has no connection to Islam or to certain countries. Thats been a disaster, Sasse said. And heres the second way to fail: If we send a signal to the Middle East that the U.S. sees all Muslims as jihadis, the terrorist recruiters win by telling kids that America is banning Muslims and that this is America versus one religion. Both approaches are wrong, and both will make us less safe. Our generational fight against jihadism requires wisdom.

Republican representatives opposing the ban include:Rep. Justin Amash, R-Michigan, Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-Virginia, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Florida, Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pennsylvania, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, Rep. Leonard Lance, R-New Jersey, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-New York.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, urged in a statement that the White House tailor its policy on visa issuance as narrowly as possible:

The present geopolitical situation in the war torn Middle East presents a number of difficult questions regarding the intersection of our efforts to protect Americans from the threat of terrorism and our legal and moral obligations to help the innocent victims of these terrible conflicts. In particular, as a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am acutely aware that many of my own ancestors in the not too distance past were themselves refugees, religious minorities violently driven from their homes and who undertook a long and dangerous journey to build a new life in a distant land, Harch wrote. I strongly urge the new administration to move quickly to tailor its policy on visa issuance as narrowly as possible, delivering on our security needs while reducing unnecessary burdens on the vast majority of visa seekers that present a promise not a threat to our nation. Doing so as expeditiously as possible will achieve our shared goals of keeping the country we both love safe and free, a beacon of justice to the world.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said on CNN that this was an extreme vetting program that was not properly vetted.

I think we need to -- I think we need to -- at this point, there are -- theres a stay in effect. Two judges now have issued stays, as I understand it. I think that is appropriate, Portman said. Again, it is a temporary ban, as I understand it. In my view, we ought to all take a deep breath and come up with something that makes sense for our national security and, again, for this notion that America has always been a welcoming home for refugees and immigrants.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, pushed back on the notion that the order was a Muslim ban in a statement.

Its simply wrong to call the presidents executive order concerning immigration and refugees a religious test of any kind. I doubt many Arkansans or Americans more broadly object to taking a harder look at foreigners coming into our country from war-torn nations with known terror networks; I think theyre wondering why we dont do that already, Cotton wrote. With proper procedures for green-card holders and immigrants with a documented history of serving alongside our troops, I think most Americans support these common-sense measures. I also think its high time we took action to fix an ill-designed refugee program that harms Christians and other religious minorities whove suffered from genocide in Syria. Whatever the media and liberal politicians may say, Im confident that, under Secretary Kellys leadership, these measures will help keep America safe.

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, tweeted out his support Sunday:

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, was one of the first to come out in support of Mr. Trump in a Friday evening statement.

We are a compassionate nation, and I support the refugee resettlement program, but its time to reevaluate and strengthen the visa vetting process, Ryan wrote. President Trump is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country.

Other Republican representatives that are in support of the executive order include:Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pennsylvania, Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-South Carolina, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Virginia, Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-California, Rep. Dan Donovan, R-New York, and Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Florida.

Other statements:

Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, issued a statement on Twitter:

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, told the Salt Lake City Tribune that he had some technical questions about the order:

National security is always the federal governments top priority, so I am pleased that the White House is focused on protecting the American people, Lee said in a statement to the paper. I do have some technical questions about President Trumps Executive Order titled Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States. My staff and I will continue to reach out to the White House for clarification on these issues.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, commented on the ban on ABCs This Week:

I think its a good idea to tighten the vetting process. But I also think its important to remember that some of our best sources in the war against radical Islamic terrorism are Muslims, both in this country and overseas, McConnell said. And we have had some difficulty in the past getting interpreters as you suggested in the earlier segment who are helpful to us treated properly. So we need to be careful as we do this. Improving vetting, something

Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, said this to CBS News:

The federal government has no more important responsibility than protecting the American people, and refugees from any country should only be permitted to enter the United States if we are certain they do not represent a threat to our citizens, said Senator Young. I look forward to carefully analyzing this temporary executive order and its effects, and working with this new administration and my colleagues in Congress to keep America safe while finally ending the unspeakable suffering of the Syrian people. I want to ensure that the administrations new policy allows Iraqis and Afghanis who faithfully supported our troops and who face threats to their safety -- and who do not represent a terrorist threat -- are able to come to the United States.

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How Republicans view Trump's immigration order - CBS News

Agustin V. Arbulu, director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights(Photo: Detroit News file)

Some Michigan Republicans began firing back this weekend at President Donald Trumps immigration executive orders, joining Democrats in arguing that temporarily suspending immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries is unwise and unconstitutional.

The director of GOP Gov. Rick Snyders Michigan Department of Civil Rights said in a Sunday statement that he understood that the federal government has primacy over border and security issues, but argued that every person must be judged by the content of their character, not by the country of their origin.

When government treats entire groups of people based on its worst elements, it not only harms other members of the group, it hurts us all, said Agustin V. Arbulu, who used to run a Metro Detroit home health care service before his appointment to lead the Department of Civil Rights.

It is particularly damaging in times like now, when we must work to mend our divisions, not multiply them. Relying on stereotypes instead of facts will always foster unintended consequences, like bias, hate and prejudice. It strengthens our enemies and drives away our friends.

After an emergency Saturday night hearing, Royal Oak-born U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting refugees and visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen after an emergency hearing Saturday night.

Arbulu said he was encouraged that Saturdays court order would prevent anyone already legally approved to enter the country from being returned to their home nations and hoped it would encourage the Trump administration to reconsider the breadth of the executive order.

Snyder himself has not made any comment about Fridays executive orders, which included the end of visas for Syrian nationals and processing of Syrian refugees until security changes are made and a four-month suspension of the nations broader refugee program. In addition, the number of refugees annually admitted to the United States was cut by more than half to 50,000.

Snyder is currently in Israel, but spokeswoman Ann Heaton on Sunday said, Gov. Snyder believes that legal immigration has helped build a strong and diverse talent base and culture in Michigan. We will work with the Trump Administration on the best way forward to keep Michigan a welcoming place while ensuring the safety of all residents.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson has supported a pause in the refugee program to ensure that security checks are more thorough on people from terrorist-ridden nations including Syria.

This wholesale immigration into this country of people who are not properly vetted was ridiculous, said Patterson, whose county last year resettled the most Syrian refugees of any Michigan county. We know there are terror groups from these countries, and our own intelligence community has said theres no way to properly vet them. The FBI and the NSA said it (last year).

The longtime Republican said there have been problems in Germany and France, which have experienced an influx of Middle East refugees.

We dont want those problems here, Patterson told The Detroit News.

In a series of Saturday tweets, Republican Congressman Justin Amash of the Grand Rapids area criticized Trumps immigration executive orders as overreaching. He joined Michigans five House Democrats in condemning the presidents actions but made some different arguments.

1/ Like Pres. Obamas executive actions on immigration, Pres. Trump's executive order overreaches and undermines our constitutional system, tweeted Amash, who has public disagreed with the new president on the idea of slapping Mexico with a new 20 percent tariff and on other issues.

Its not lawful to ban immigrants on basis of nationality, he added. If the president wants to change immigration law, he must work with Congress.

Amash, who represents a district in the Grand Rapids area, said if the concern is the threats from radicalism and terrorism, "then what about Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others?"

Trump's order bans most individuals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, from entering the U.S., on current or new visas, and even green card holders.

But experts note that Trump left off other countries of origin of radicalized Muslims who came to carry out deadly attacks on U.S. soil, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Egypt.

In a series of Tweets, Amash compared Friday's executive order restricting visas for seven Muslim-majority countries to orders under former President Barack Obama in that Trump's "overreaches and undermines our constitutional system."

"It's not lawful to ban immigrants on basis of nationality. If the president wants to change immigration law, he must work with Congress," Amash wrote.

He said Trump's denial of entry to green-card holders, who are lawful permanent residents of the United States, was "particularly troubling."

"Green card holders live in the United States as our neighbors and serve in our Armed Forces. They deserve better," Amash wrote.

"We must do much more to properly vet refugees, but a blanket ban represents an extreme approach not consistent with our nation's values."

Amash, an attorney and the son of a Syrian immigrant, also said that admitting immigrants, non-immigrants, and refugees on a "case-by-case basis" would violate the rule of law due to arbitrariness.

"Finally, we can't effectively fight homegrown Islamic radicalism by perpetuating 'us vs. them' mindset that terrorists use to recruit," Amash wrote.

"We must ensure U.S. remains dedicated to Constitution, Rule of Law, and liberty. Capitalism creates prosperity and improves assimilation."

Another Republican, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Sunday he wouldn't offer "blanket criticism" of Trump's order.

"Its going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far," McConnell said on ABC's "This Week."

McConnell also said that, "to the extent they're trying to improve the vetting process, I think that's in order. [W]e also need to remember that some of our best allies in the war against Islamic terrorism are Muslims.

Another Michigan Republican, Rep. Dave Trott, R-Birmingham, supports Trump's order.

The scenes of refugees fleeing their homes across the Middle East are absolutely heartbreaking. As a father, I feel for these families who have been ripped from their homelands. However, I understand that our first and foremost priority must be to ensure the safety of American families - our children and loved ones, Trott said in a statement.

"Until we can adequately vet these refugees and ensure the safety of all Americans, I support President Trump's executive order to stay refugees from these terror-prone countries."

In a joint statement, Democratic Reps. John Conyers Jr. of Detroit, Dan Kildee of Flint Township and Debbie Dingell of Dearborn slammed Trumps directive as a thinly veiled ban on entry based on religion."

Unfortunately, the order issued by Mr. Trump today represents an unprecedented break with our humanitarian tradition and role as a beacon of freedom, the lawmakers said.

As members of Congress, we take a back seat to no one in our nations efforts to combat the ongoing threat of terrorism. That is why our refugee system already extensively vets and confirms every individual seeking entry to our country, subjecting them to a series of security screenings and checking against multiple law enforcement databases. But giving in to our worst fears -- as this order does -- will do nothing to make America safer or weaken our adversaries.

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Some Mich. Republicans assail Trump's immigration order - The Detroit News

WASHINGTON -- Two Republicans from the Philadelphia area have broken with President Trump and his executive order barring U.S. entry for all refugees and the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries -- making them some of only a handful from the GOP to oppose a move that has stirred widespread protests, including in Philadelphia.

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Most local Republicans, however, have remained silent, including some who have previously denounced bans targeting Muslims, while Democrats from the region have raced to airports to support people detained there and to forcefully denounce the president's actions.

"The president's policy entirely misses the mark," said U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Pa.), a Bucks County freshman who noted that he spent more than a decade as an FBI supervisory special agent working on counterterrorism.

"We were focused on solutions, not engaging in partisan attacks or declaring a singular fix to a complicated issue," Fitzpatrick said in a statement issued shortly after midnight Sunday morning. He added, "The reality is, terrorism inspired by radicalism and hate is global in scope and, as such, requires a comprehensive response, not a purely regional focus. While serious actions are needed to protect our country, these must not be done in a way that singles out any specific nations or ethnicities."

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R., Pa.) said U.S. policy, while protecting Americans, should also "protect innocent and vulnerable people abroad."

The Allentown Congressman's district includes a large Syrian population. He said one family there told his office of Christian Syrian relatives who had valid visas and were not refugees, but were turned away at Philadelphia International Airport and may be forced back to Syria.

"This is unacceptable," Dent said, urging "a more thoughtful and deliberate policy."

Most Republicans from the Philadelphia area, however, had not issued statements on the ban as of early Sunday morning, and some other Republicans backed it.

"This is not a religious test and it is not a ban on people of any religion," said a spokeswoman for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wisc.).

Trump told reporters "its not a Muslim ban, but we were totally prepared." He added, "Its working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over."

Local Democrats were at some of those airports, raising fierce objections.

Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) went to Philadelphia's airport from a downtown ball, still in his tuxedo, to join protesters and other Democrats advocating for several people detained after a flight from Qatar and caught up in legal wrangling over the order. Two Christian families from Syria had already been sent back to Qatar before a judge's decision halted Trump's order.

"Generations of Americans have fought for the fundamental principles of this nation. We have a sacred obligation to do the same," Casey wrote on Twitter. In another post he added, ".@realDonaldTrump made a political decision w/ exec order. Whatever the politics, I won't stand by as the promise of America is diminished."

Philadelphia's three Congressmen, Bob Brady, Brendan Boyle and Dwight Evans, all Democrats, also blasted the ban.

Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), meanwhile, went to Dulles International Airport just outside Washington to speak up for legal U.S. residents detained there and vowed to go to Newark Liberty Internal Airport Sunday."This Executive Order violates our values and assaults our moral standing as a nation," Booker wrote on Twitter.

Around 1 a.m. Sunday, Boyle urged more Republicans to speak out.

"Many of you are friends of mine," he wrote on Twitter. "I know you don't agree w/ Trump. You need to go public NOW before it's too late."

Few have so far responded to his urging.

This post will be updated as further responses are issued.

Published: January 29, 2017 8:22 AM EST | Updated: January 29, 2017 8:46 AM EST

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Two Philly-area Republicans break with Trump on ban - Philly.com