Southwest Georgia congressional delegation reacts to travel ban

WASHINGTON — Southwest Georgia’s congressional delegation, in reaction to President Trump’s executive order on Friday that suspended refugees entering the United States for 120 days and barred citizens of seven nations from entering the U.S. for 90 days, followed party lines in terms of support and opposition.

The controversial order, which, in addition to temporarily banning travel to the U.S. from the Muslim-majority countries, suspended the U.S.’s Syrian refugee program indefinitely, resulted in Trump firing acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday night after she instructed Justice Department attorneys not to defend the order. Four federal judges ruled against the order, stopping its effect on people who were being detained at U.S. airports over the weekend.

“The president’s executive order creating a travel ban is over-broad and impractical, as we saw at airports all over the world this weekend,” U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, said. “This ban ensnared legal permanent residents who have already been vetted, interpreters who risked their lives serving alongside our troops in Iraq, and innocent people seeking refuge from war, violence and persecution.

“I urge the administration to rethink this executive order, and I stand committed to work with my colleagues in Congress to implement solutions that will make our country safer while remaining consistent with our values as a nation of immigrants.”

U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, said he hoped the order would give the administration and federal lawmakers time to improve the vetting process.

“Immigrants, refugees, and countries of origin should be vetted on a thorough, case-by-case basis,” Scott said. “It is my hope that this temporary stay gives President Trump’s team time to coordinate with Congress to review the vetting process and figure out how to best protect American citizens. Any reforms to our vetting process or assessments of our refugee and immigration policies will require a total effort between all branches of government to get it right.

“For example, last Congress, I introduced legislation to increase homeland security and keep Americans safe by requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to monitor the travel of any refugees admitted into our country. Currently, the federal government makes no effort to track their travel, including whether they travel back to the same country or region they are from. By requiring DHS to collect this data, crucial intelligence could be gathered and our refugee admissions policy could be improved to enhance national security.”

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Marietta, said he agreed that the vetting process needed to be improved, but said the action could have been implemented in a less disruptive manner.

“President Trump and his administration have been taking steps to fulfill his campaign promises, and he’s right that we need to strengthen our national security and improve the vetting process for people coming into our country,” Georgia’s senior senator said. “Unfortunately, some important aspects of the process to ensure that this temporary travel ban could be implemented smoothly were overlooked.

“I hope that President Trump will consult with the national security team he has assembled with the advice and consent of the Senate, so that security measures are properly implemented and do not infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans. I also believe that America should continue to be welcoming to refugees who are fleeing war and persecution and who share America’s ideals and values.”

U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Sea Island, said the seven nations named in the order — Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — had been identified by the Obama administration as national security concerns.

“We are at war with ISIS and our previous president (Obama) refused to put a plan in place to deal with this threat,” Perdue said. “We know terrorist groups have identified our country’s refugee system as a weakness and have purposed to exploit this program to their advantage.

“The first responsibility of any American president is to protect American citizens. This temporary pause will allow DHS to ensure the vetting process is improved. America will always be a compassionate country, and President Trump is taking action to protect all of our citizens.”

Perdue also said he supported Trump’s decision to replace Yates with Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, pending Senate confirmation of Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., as Trump’s attorney general.

“Like many Georgians, I have the utmost respect for Sally Yates, but I fully support President Trump’s right to make this type of personnel change in light of the fact that he is trying to protect Americans,” Perdue said. “Refusing to defend the United States is irresponsible.

“Under President Obama, our federal agencies were extremely politicized, and President Trump is trying to stop this trend. It is refreshing to see President Trump take action immediately instead of acting like a typical politician.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee had been scheduled to vote on Sessions and, with a GOP majority on the panel, send his nomination to the full Senate. Committee Democrats, however, used a procedural move Tuesday to block the committee vote until Wednesday.

Democrats on Tuesday also held up the advancement of two other Trump cabinet nominees to the full Senate on Tuesday by failing to show up for a Senate Finance Committee vote. Delayed were U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., nominated to become secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and Stephen Mnuchin, nominated for secretary of the Department of Treasury.

Isakson had sharp remarks for his Democratic colleagues, ending with, “I’m ready to vote and do my job. I hope the Democrats will come to the table soon and do the same thing.”