GOP Senator Says Trump Executive Order On Refugees Is ‘Too Broad’

Republican Senate hopeful Ben Sasse speaks in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, May 13, 2014, after winning his party's primary election. A crowd of Republican candidates jockeyed to succeed Nebraska's outgoing governor and se... Republican Senate hopeful Ben Sasse speaks in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, May 13, 2014, after winning his party's primary election. A crowd of Republican candidates jockeyed to succeed Nebraska's outgoing governor and senior U.S. senator in a busy primary election where voters also were set to select nominees for three other vacant offices. (AP Photo) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) on Saturday said that President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily barring refugees entry to the United States was “too broad” and risked serving as recruiting fodder for terrorist groups.

“While not technically a Muslim ban, this order is too broad,” Sasse said in a statement.

Though the Nebraska Republican said it was clear that jihadi terrorism was particularly concentrated in “certain countries,” he argued that Trump’s blanket 120-day ban on refugees tells “the Middle East that the U.S. sees all Muslims as jihadis.”

Under the executive order signed Friday, Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely and citizens from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, and Libya are prohibited from entering the country for 90 days.

This policy makes “the terrorist recruiters win by telling kids that America is banning Muslims and that this is America versus one religion,” Sasse, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said. Such action makes “us less safe,” he added.

A few other Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) and Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), spoke out against the ban on Saturday.

Amash sent a series of tweets claiming the order “overreaches and undermines our constitutional system,” and urging Trump to “work with Congress” to alter immigration law.

“It’s not lawful to ban immigrants on basis of nationality,” Amash added.

Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for dttfsa dttfsa says:

    Hit them, everyone. Keep hitting them till they, oh I don’t know…introduce legislation to do something about it?

  2. They’re asking Trump for permission? What a bunch of pussies. Legislate!

  3. The “extreme vetting” Executive Order did NOT go through "extreme vetting."

  4. That Man goes on Twitter again to denounce Sasse as a “gym bunny” in 5, 4, 3, 2, …

  5. And dare Trump to veto it. Then try to get some Democrats to join a veto override, only to have them laugh at you, and explain to you that this is your guy, and you’re going down with him.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

136 more replies

Participants

Avatar for ajm Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for marby Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for chammy Avatar for trnc Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for teenlaqueefa Avatar for becca656 Avatar for thepsyker Avatar for inlabsitrust Avatar for zoester Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for 26degreesrising Avatar for theghostofeustacetilley Avatar for darrtown Avatar for tena Avatar for antisachetdethe Avatar for misterneutron Avatar for spencersmom Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for tiowally Avatar for the_loan_arranger

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: