WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders in Congress said Sunday that they would move to reverse President Trump’s refugee ban. Some top Republicans stepped up their criticism of the new policy, even though GOP leaders in Congress continued to show restraint.
Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, called on Trump to immediately withdraw the action Sunday, saying it made the country “less humanitarian, less safe, less American.’’
“It must be reversed immediately, and Democrats are going to introduce legislation to overturn it,’’ Schumer told reporters gathered for a news conference in New York. He said he believes repeal legislation could easily move through the Senate, given the growing opposition from key Republicans.
Senator Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said he would introduce legislation to overturn Trump’s order by forcing him to comply with the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which banned discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin.
Trump’s executive order, which targets Syrian refugees and all travelers from several predominantly Muslim nations, had drawn little dissent from Republicans initially, even as Democrats denounced it and protests erupted around the country and the world.
But on Sunday, several members of Trump’s party said the process, while initiated with the right intention, had been too hastily enacted and could backfire against US interests.
Republican Senators John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina issued a statement that said Trump’s order was not properly vetted and could be seen as the United States turning its back on Muslims who had risked their lives to serve as interpreters for US military and diplomats.
“Ultimately, we fear this executive order will become a self-inflicted wound in the fight against terrorism,’’ they said, adding “that is why we fear this executive order may do more to help terrorist recruitment than improve our security.’’
McCain also said the plan was carried out without proper consultation of US allies and mistakenly lumped together the country’s adversaries, like Iran, with allies, like Iraq.
Republicans have largely supported Trump’s aggressive agenda on other matters, but in his first major decision on national security, he is finding uncharacteristic opposition from his party in the blush of his early days in office.
Senator Rob Portman, Republican of Ohio, likewise questioned the hastiness of the order’s rollout and called for a reevaluation of the White House’s unilateral effort.
“You have an extreme vetting proposal that did not get the vetting it should have had,’’ he said on CNN’s “State of the Union,’’ adding that Congress should be part of finding a solution.
“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,’’ he said.
A handful of Republicans, including Senators Orrin Hatch of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Susan Collins of Maine, had offered similarly cautious criticism of the measure Saturday.
But if further frustration was felt, it was not widely publicized. The Republican leadership has been more circumspect about the order, which resembles a bill passed by the House last year with widespread Republican support.
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin released a statement Friday praising the order by Trump, even as he signaled support for the US refugee resettlement program. The president, he wrote, “is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country.’’ He did not comment further.
Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, the majority leader, did not criticize the order itself Sunday but said the country needed to “be careful’’ with how it is carried out.
“I don’t want to criticize them for improving vetting,’’ McConnell said on ABC’s “This Week.’’ “I think we need to be careful. We don’t have religious tests in this country.’’ He added, “It’s hopefully going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far.’’
Still, Trump’s actions could add pressure to Trump’s nominees to lead the Justice and State departments, who will probably be asked to offer their positions on the ban.
Democrats were nearly united in their condemnation of Trump’s policy, with several of them rushing to airports to speak out in defense of people who had been detained and even those representing states Trump won voicing dissent.
