Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted President Donald Trump’s revised refugee executive order Monday, saying he anticipates it having the same set of challenges the first version faced.
The order temporarily bars the citizens of Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen from entering the United States for 90 days. The new version excludes Iraq, after the U.S. government received assurance from the Iraqi government the United States will be able to effectively vet Iraqi nationals, and removed language giving preference to Christian refugees.
While the administration tried to improve the language, Schumer doesn’t believe the courts will find the new version to be any more constitutional than the last.
“Despite their best efforts, I fully expect this executive order to have the same uphill climb in the courts that the previous version had,” he said in a statement.
Schumer argued the ban is not in the best interest of U.S. national security, tweeting, “A watered down ban is still a ban.”
A watered down ban is still a ban. https://t.co/EbVJWQOUaE #MuslimBan2
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 6, 2017
Despite the Administration’s changes, the #MuslimBan2 makes us less safe, not more, it is mean-spirited & un-American. It must be repealed.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 6, 2017
Americans need to know that this latest Exec Order has absolutely nothing to do with national security. It is still a ban. #MuslimBan2
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 6, 2017
Following a shaky roll-out of the initial executive order, which was blocked in the courts, the latest version clarified language on who is exempt from the ban.
Proponents of the move argue the move is necessary to properly vet refugees coming into the country to prevent potential acts of terror.
“This revised executive order advances our shared goal of protecting the homeland. I commend the administration and Secretary Kelly in particular for their hard work on this measure to improve our vetting standards. We will continue to work with President Trump to keep our country safe,” said Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, defending the new executive order.
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