White House: Immigration order ‘small price’ for safety
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A demonstrator wears a Statue of Liberty hat and applauds during a rally against President Trump’s order that restricts travel to the U.S., Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, in Boston.
WASHINGTON >> The White House today tried to tamp down concerns about President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration order in the face of widespread protests, as some Republicans in Congress urged him to proceed with caution in the face of legal pushback. Top congressional Republicans, however, remain largely behind the new president.
During a round of Sunday show interviews, Trump’s aides stressed that just a small portion of travelers had been affected by the order, which temporarily bars the citizens of seven majority Muslim nations from entering the country. The aides also reversed course and said that citizens of those countries who hold permanent U.S. residency “green cards” will not be barred from re-entering the country, as officials had previously said.
“I can’t imagine too many people out there watching this right now think it’s unreasonable to ask a few more questions from someone traveling in and out of Libya and Yemen before being let loose in the United States,” insisted Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus. “And that’s all this is.”
As of this afternoon, one legal permanent resident had been denied entry to the country as a result of the order, according to a federal law enforcement official. The official was not permitted to discuss the order’s impact publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The changes, said White House adviser Kellyanne Conway, are “a small price to pay” to keep the nation safe.
But it’s unclear whether the order, which also suspends refugee admissions for 120 days and indefinitely bars the processing of refugees from Syria, will accomplish that. The order does not address homegrown extremists already in America, a primary concern of federal law enforcement officials. And the list of countries in Trump’s order doesn’t include Saudi Arabia, where most of the Sept. 11 hijackers were from.
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Priebus said that other countries could be added to the list.
The order has sparked widespread protests and denunciations from Democrats and a handful of Republicans. Many have accused the administration of rushing to implement the changes, resulting in panic and confusion at the nation’s airports.
“You have an extreme vetting proposal that didn’t get the vetting it should have had,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who urged the new president to “slow down” and work with lawmakers on how best to tighten screening for foreigners who enter the United States.
“In my view, we ought to all take a deep breath and come up with something that makes sense for our national security” and reflects the fact that “America’s always been a welcoming home for refugees and immigrants,” he said.
The comments came the morning after a federal judge in New York issued an emergency order temporarily barring the U.S. from deporting people from the seven majority Muslim nations subject to Trump’s 90-day travel ban. The judge said travelers who had been detained had a strong argument that their legal rights had been violated.
The order barred U.S. border agents from removing anyone who arrived in the U.S. with a valid visa from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. It also covered anyone with an approved refugee application.
The Department of Homeland Security, however, said the court ruling would not affect the overall implementation of the White House order.
“President Trump’s executive orders remain in place — prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety,” the department said in a statement.
Top congressional Republicans, meanwhile, were backing Trump despite concerns raised from a handful of GOP lawmakers.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he supports more stringent screening mechanisms, though he cautioned that Muslims are some of the country’s “best sources in the war against terror.”
“I think it’s a good idea to tighten the vetting process But I also think it’s important to remember that some of our best sources in the war against radical Islamic terrorism are Muslims, both in this country and overseas,” he said.
He also stressed the need “to be careful as we do this,” and said it would be up to the courts to decide “whether or not this has gone too far.”
Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, meanwhile, warned of unintended consequences, expressing fear the order could “become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism.”
“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,” they wrote.
Trump billed his sweeping executive order as a necessary step to stop “radical Islamic terrorists” from coming to the U.S.
Koch political network, which is among the most influential players in the conservative movement, also condemned the plan today.
“The travel ban is the wrong approach and will likely be counterproductive,” network co-chairman Brian Hooks said in a statement. “We believe it is possible to keep Americans safe without excluding people who wish to come here to contribute and pursue a better life for their families.”
Priebus was on NBC’s “Meet the Press” and Portman was on CNN’s “State of the Union,” while McConnell appeared on ABC’s “This Week.”
46 responses to “White House: Immigration order ‘small price’ for safety”
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I keep on seeing the TV ads for the company that will do a DNA analysis to determine your family origins. Ancestry DNA. I wonder if eventually, the Feds are going to confiscate the site’s records, and start going after its customers with suspect DNA origins? If they are DNA origined, in whole or in part, from the 7 banned countries of origin, or the rest in the Middle East, Africa, Central America, South America, and Asia to come? I wonder how far back they’ll go? 1621? Later?
Anything is possible for Trump – an ignoramus who invents his own facts and reality.
The good news is that real patriots have mobilized to stop him. Congress is starting to abandon him to not be caught up in his cesspool of incompetence and conflicts.
Trump will be coming after these guys next…http://www.apsanlaw.com/law-246.List-of-Sanctuary-cities.html
We don’t need more people. Overcrowding lowers our life quality.
true..and the way this entire disaster was rolled out was just one of many fiascos to come. Scary…and the stock market is tanking as people now realize that Trump does not have a clue what to do.
America & Americans SAFETY 1st & foremost.
Trump suspends the issuing of U.S. visas or travel permits to folks from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. No American was killed inside the U.S. by anyone from those countries between 1975 and 2015.
Yet, nearly 3,000 Americans were killed by citizens from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt during those same years, including those killed in the 9/11 attacks. The citizens of those three countries can still get U.S. visas and travel permits.
Also, Trump has refused to rescind ownership of his business holdings in those countries. Conflict of interest?
Yes, of course. He’s in this for the money.
It’s not possible to overstate or exaggerate Trump’s incompetence so far as President. Everything he has tried has been botched. The good news is that Congress is started to abandon him already. If that happens, he won’t be able to enact anything by law, and we (ACLU) expect to challenge many or most of his executive orders in court.
The goal is to stop him in his tracks every time he tries something unconstitutional or illegal. He’s an ignoramus and his staff is flat out terrible, so beating him shouldn’t be too heavy a lift.
Spoken like a true Soros lackey.
DPK – I never met George Soros, and really don’t care what he says or does.
It might help if you would finally, at long last, stop lying.
A bit edgy because the snowflakes are unwittingly preparing to get their skulls cracked. The Soros paid cadre are out there whipping up the el stupidos to do something real stupid real soon.
Good to see Soros getting taken on across the globe now for his ‘political’ actions to promote the ‘one world order’ and ‘funding of the refugee crisis’ that has the EU nations in a real mess…
Not to mention his effort to affect the political landscapes of countries like the US as part of his effort to move towards a ‘one world order’….. There are reports that show how much of the liberal/Democratic ‘special interest’ groups he has been funding. Funding that I suspect without, many of these groups would close up operation altogether…
Thanks “Seaborn” and “Klastri”. Great comments.
Usual cricket chirping. Trump shaking up the establishment after the big upset victory. Enjoy the ride.
So, why don’t any of the Trump supporters comment on Seaborn’s information? Keoni, Sarge, how about something meaningful, not just something off a campaign poster.
The King of Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi agreed with President Donald Trump’s request to support safe zones for refugees in the Middle East, the White House announced Sunday.
A White House readout of the call between President Trump and Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud said that the King agreed to “support safe zones in Syria and Yemen, as well as supporting other ideas to help the many refugees who are displaced by the ongoing conflicts.”
http://truthfeed.com/breaking-gulf-leaders-comply-with-trumps-request-to-set-up-safe-zones-for-refugees/49443/
Such a big fuss going on for something that is temporary until better screening can be established. These protesters are overreacting as usual.
That’s quite an analysis. So you think staying in a jail at an airport for four months is no big deal?
Complete ignorance.
Come on, Klastri, get real. Airports do not have jails and no one will be held for more than a few hours or a day or two while being properly screened by Homeland Security before being allowed to enter the country. It does not matter that some of them may be Green Card holders because many of them have gone to the Middle-East to join ISIS and other terrorists groups and we need to stop them from being allowed back in to do us harm. Do you really want them back in the US? I don’t.
Like usual, you don’t know what you’re talking about. It doesn’t matter that resident aliens are detained? You are a typical Trump supporter.
Airports do have cells.
It’s exhausting to correct you constantly.
“Do you really want them back in the US?” Simply answer the question.
Detained for further questioning klastri. That is all. Your overreaction is ignorant.
No. The resident aliens are being detained for further questioning. The others are being sent back.
Learn something today.
Maybe the protesters are fired up because the Liar in Chief is claiming this is not a Muslin ban when his lapdog Rudy Giuliani has claimed otherwise….
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Trump-asked-for-a-Muslim-ban-Giuliani-says-10892651.php
not to mention a high level of screening is already in place.
The article you posted quotes Giuliani as saying the ban is not based on religion. The last paragraph says, “”And what we did was, we focused on, instead of religion, danger – the areas of the world that create danger for us,” Giuliani told Pirro. “Which is a factual basis, not a religious basis. Perfectly legal, perfectly sensible. And that’s what the ban is based on. It’s not based on religion. It’s based on places where there are substantial evidence that people are sending terrorists into our country.””
It’s based on religion – clearly. Christians get special treatment. It’s a religious test no matter how much Trump lies about it.
The administration is going to be swamped with law suits. I’m writing up a few of them myself and it’s the most fun I’ve had in 20 years!
Many news stories refer to the temporary barring for 90 days of entry to the U.S of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. However, the Executive Order does not actually name specific countries.
The Order instead refers to section U.S. Code 1187(a)(12) for the countries to be affected. That portion of the U.S. Code was already in effect when President Trump took office. The Code names Iraq and Syria as areas of concern, and has provisions to add more countries. I think Iraq and Syria were named because of the concerns about ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria). President Obama’s administration added to the list Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Code 1187(a)(12) can be found at: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1187 .
The Department of Homeland Security website has a news release dated 2/18/16 which adds additional countries to the list: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2016/02/18/dhs-announces-further-travel-restrictions-visa-waiver-program
The text of the Executive Order can be found at: http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/28/politics/text-of-trump-executive-order-nation-ban-refugees/index.html .
It’s impossible to overstate or exaggerate the incompetence of the Trump administration so far. This particular EO is about the most botched event imaginable. ACLU is going to be all over him.
Trump is used to being a (mostly failed) CEO, operating in the tiny sphere of real estate. He’s in way, way over his orange head. Way over.
Worst President Ever. Already!
Carson Holloway, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, stated the following in his Mar. 26, 2015 article “The ACLU’s Betrayal of Civil Liberties,” posted on publicdiscourse.com:
“The ACLU is trying to deprive other organizations of freedoms that it would insist upon for itself. Their work is not a defense of equality—it is an effort to impose a certain view of morality on the country by law… This organization, despite its name and origins, is now committed to a version of civil rights that cannot help but erode traditional American civil liberties.
The motto of the ACLU is, ‘Because Freedom Can’t Defend Itself.’ The irony today is that freedom needs to be defended from the ACLU.”
Mar. 26, 2015 – Carson Holloway, PhD
Carson Holloway from the Heritage Foundation? No hidden agenda here folks…….
http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/nonstaff/h/carson-holloway
Of course you’re right.
Deep thoughts from a Russian troll.
The American people have been brainwashed by the media and spacial interests into believing we need more immigration because we have not enough intelligent and willing workers and that overcrowding is good for you.
Priebus: “I can’t imagine too many people out there watching this right now think it’s unreasonable to ask a few more questions from someone traveling in and out of Libya and Yemen before being let loose in the United States.” So simple, so true.
I didn’t always understand this beautiful simplicity though. At one time, I tried to understand why most Muslims are peaceful and kind, but some are violent and cruel. I read books about history and culture and religion.
I concluded the main danger is the tens of thousands of Al Qaeda and ISIS fighters and supporters from Saudi Arabia. I would have been alarmed that these extremists return home from Lybia, Syria, Yemen and Iraq, and are free to travel to the US. I would have wondered how many folks think it is reasonable to allow this while claiming to keep uis safe.
You see, the main source of violent terrorism, statistocally speaking, is not Islam it’s Arabic culture, specifically fundamentalist Arabs who confuse being Muslim with their archaic cultural values that predate the prophet Mohammad.
I thought that the failure of the early Muslims to complile the Prophet’s revelations in chronological order, the rampant illiteracy, the worldwide reliance on imams from Arab countries (esp. Saudi Arabia), and the majority non-Arab speaking Muslims, have all contributed to confusion in Islam and to the hegemony of primitive Arabic values.
Imagine if the Bible’s chronology was mixed up (Gospel teachings came before Leviticus), if it was only written in Latin, and if Christians also felt compelled to emulate the cultural practices of the ancient MidEast? How would this change our understanding of Scripture and what it means to be a Christian? It would likely be alot like Arabic Islamic Fundamentalism and Arabic Sharia law.
I used to think that was the main cause of radical Islamic terrorism, but no more. Now that I am a loyal Trump supporter, it’s not that complicated.
The good Muslims are the ones who are rich and powerful. The bad ones are those that are too weak and poor to defend themselves. Might makes right. So simple.
Thsnks Donald.
The Liar-in-Chief at it again…..
“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting,” Trump said in the statement.
Fox News host Jeanine Pirro asked Giuliani if the ban had anything to do with religion.
“How did the president decide the seven countries?” she asked. “OK, talk to me.”
“I’ll tell you the whole history of it,” Giuliani responded eagerly. “So when (Trump) first announced it, he said, ‘Muslim ban.’ He called me up. He said, ‘Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.'”
Giuliani continued, saying he assembled a “whole group of other very expert lawyers on this,” including former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, and Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Trump-asked-for-a-Muslim-ban-Giuliani-says-10892651.php
“Trump also said he would give priority to Christian refugees over those of other religions, according to the Christian Broadcasting Network.”
Can we say ‘unconstitutional’? Yes, I thought so.
Yes. And cowardly beyond words.
I’m not sure when Republicans became the party of ignorant cowards that they’ve become. It’s sad.
Someone should put a giant orange drape over the Statue of Liberty. The United States no longer welcomes immigrants. “Give me your tired, your poor…and your non-muslim immigrants.”
I’m sure you voiced similar suggestions in 2011 and again in 2014 when our Iraqi refugee program was temporarily suspended as well.
My memory being what it is however, I just can’t seem to recollect your outrage..
I wasn’t outraged then because there was no religious test applied. Like there is now. Christians=OK ; Muslims=Not OK
My libertarian leanings tend to object to any bans levied against categorized refugees, regardless of location and ideology, so the previous several administrations who’ve implemented various bans have left me somewhat disgruntled. Also, my personal experiences with Global Ministries has revealed to me first hand the very real need for humanitarian understanding.
That said, it appears by the 1952 legislation that by virtue of the president’s authority to designate a “class” as bearing some immigration risk, he has the power to temporarily restrict their entry. The term “terrorism” must logically include the subset “Islamic terrorism”, which then carries the religious connection. So whether or not this particular order will stand remains to be seen, although the case against specific religious persecution seems stronger at this point.
This fight apparently will be won in the court, not the newspapers, but as for myself, I have to side with those in need.
Rather than protest come up with a better solution or course of action. I’m tired of all the haters who never paid this issue any mind when Obama was in office. This president is trying to keep us safe. Solution not sabotage!!!!
This president is trying to keep us safe like President Roosevelt did when he interned Japanese Americans during WWII. I hope he comes to his senses before it gets ugly. Apologize now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wxMTh_UzHM
spammers continue projecting their own psychotic/neurotic disorders onto triumph in order to validate their overblown images of themselves posing as greatly educated thinkers when they are in reality merely greatly indoctrinated stinkers.
From the ACLU:
A federal judge granted the ACLU’s request for an order blocking the deportation of people stranded in U.S. airports under President Trump’s new executive order.
In the hours after President Trump signed his Muslim ban, thousands headed to airports across the country to protest, and lawyers from our affiliates went to arrival hallways to fight. Meanwhile, other ACLU attorneys headed for a federal courthouse in Brooklyn.
Within hours we won a preliminary ruling — which applies nationwide — ensuring that people who have been granted permission to be in this country are not removed from U.S. soil. Eight days after Donald Trump took office, we’ve challenged his assault on the Constitution and delivered his first rebuke from the courts.
The courts acted as the bulwark of our democracy that protects individual rights and guards against the overreaching of an administration that confuses its will for that of the American people’s.
But this is only the beginning — just the first skirmish in a long battle to vigorously defend the Bill of Rights from the authoritarian designs of the Trump administration. In fact, right now, our attorneys are on-the-ground in airports across the country working to ensure that detained people have legal counsel and are not removed. Where necessary, we are going to court to file petitions on behalf of those being held.
The fight is just getting started.