Report: DHS Chief Was Being Briefed On Travel Ban Order As Trump Signed It

United States President Donald Trump is joined by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly (R) during a visit to the Department of Homeland Security January 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. While at the department Trump sig... United States President Donald Trump is joined by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly (R) during a visit to the Department of Homeland Security January 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. While at the department Trump signed two executive orders related to domestic security and to begin the process of building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Pool via CNP - NO'WIRE'SERVICE - Photo by: Chip Somodevilla/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
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The newly-minted secretary of the Department of Homeland Security learned about President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugees from the United States as well as visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries as Trump signed it on television.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Gen. John Kelly and other top officials were being briefed on the order for the first time Friday on a conference call when someone on the call looked at a television.

“The President is signing the executive order that we’re discussing,” the unnamed official said, according to the Times.

The lack of communication from the White House sowed confusion in airports nationwide, as volunteer lawyers, congresspeople and eventually several federal judges demanded that detained refugees with valid visas be let go.

After considerable confusion over the weekend about the status of green card holders from the seven countries named in the order, Kelly said Sunday that “lawful permanent resident status will be a dispositive factor in our case-by-case determinations.”

Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis was also caught off guard by the immigration order, the Times reported.

Mattis reportedly did not see the order’s final draft until hours before Trump signed it in front of him at his ceremonial swearing-in at the Pentagon. Mattis was a vocal critical of what Trump had called a “Muslim ban” during the presidential campaign.

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Notable Replies

  1. GOP: We believe in small government. It can be painful to others. Saving money is always painful.

  2. I don’t see the issue. President Bannon approved, and that’s the only criteria.

  3. So I’m betting the same thing will happen with:

    1. TrumpDontCare
    2. Construction plans for the wall
    3. Rounding up minorities for internment
    4. IRS tax breaks for billionaires
    5. Dismantling of the EPA
      etc. etc. etc.

    l

  4. Midst all the rightful concern about his soul, mental status, and morality, has anyone else noticed that Trump appears quite pasty despite make-up, actually physically ill? Just dreadfully tired or truly chronically ill? What do good physicians in the audience think? Not wishful thinking, just uneasy.

  5. No sweat, he’s taking his first vacation Feb 3rd.

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