Democrats railed against it, saying it would not keep America safe

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

After the botched roll-out of the first travel ban on 27 January, which was met with bureaucratic confusion and legal battles, Republicans proved far more comfortable with Trump’s second executive order.

Trump travel ban: new order targeting six Muslim-majority countries signed Read more

The revised travel ban excludes Iraq, instead limiting travel from six Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Senator Lindsey Graham, who was a vocal critic of the original executive order, told reporters on Monday he thought the White House had made the necessary changes. “I think it’s going to stand legal scrutiny [and] it will make the country safer,” said the South Carolina Republican. “It is prospective in application, it’s clearly not a Muslim ban, lawful visa-holders’ visas will be honored.”

He also was particularly pleased that Iraq was not subject to the revised order. “We have over 5,000 US forces fighting on the ground alongside Iraqis. I think it is a really good overhaul.”

Arizona senator John McCain, who had also criticized the original executive order, echoed Graham’s support. “I’m glad they took Iraq out of the category they had it in. To put Iraq and Iran in same category is ridiculous.”

However, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee declined to weigh in on the new executive order in its entirety, telling reporters: “I haven’t had a chance to look at it.”

Those who had supported Trump’s original order also welcomed the change. Representative Raul Labrador of Idaho said in a statement: “While I believe [Trump’s] initial order was legally sound, the implementation left much room for improvement. Today’s revised executive order begins fulfilling President Trump’s promise to put America’s safety first, and also ensures that our agents act uniformly at our borders.”

US travel ban questions answered: what has changed and what's next? Read more

Democrats continued to rail against the revised executive order. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania said in a statement: “This new travel ban is inconsistent with our values and won’t keep America safe.”

He was echoed by Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats. “President Trump’s original travel ban was a serious policy mistake and legally questionable – and that he needed to issue a new, revised ban only underscores that fact.”

In his view, King added: “A deliberate strategy of Isis and other extremist groups is to create a divide between America and the Muslim world in order to drive Muslims towards their brand of extremist violence and terrorism.

“Unfortunately, the president’s travel ban, even with its revisions, continues to risk playing into that strategy, which I believe will result in the weakening of our national security – not the strengthening of it, as the president intended.”

Both King and Casey face re-election in 2018 in states where Trump had strongly outperformed past Republican candidates.