Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Corker (R-TN) said that it was possible that Congress would take legislative action to address the concerns lawmakers have raised about President Trump’s immigration executive order, if the administration wasn’t able to clear up the issues in the next few days.
“I think they understand it was a misfire here,” Corker told reporters Monday on Capitol Hill. “I’d rather them have a few days to come back and talk to us a little bit more about what they’re really going to do, and then I’d judge that, and then there might be some legislative action. “
The executive order, which Trump signed Friday evening, targeted nationals from seven majority-Muslim countries. It caused immediate chaos as travelers, including some green card-holders, were detained in U.S. airports on hours on end while others were blocked from coming to America entirely. After some confusion, the Trump administration softened its position, and said it did not apply to green carder holders. Yet lawmakers have taken issue with aspects of the order that would also block others, including Iraqi interpreters who assisted the U.S. military from entering the United States.
“Obviously the communication was not there. The agency process was not there. Folks here on the Hill were not aware of what was getting ready to happen. People around the world were not aware. Chaos ensued,” Corker said, when asked about whether Congress should take some action to amend it. “Then there’s the substance issue of what this really means, which they are working with us right now to make sure we fully understand what it is they’re implementing. In a few days, if there are still some concerns then possibly, but right now, I’d rather them more fully develop what it is they really have initiated.”
