Mitch Daniels, others criticize President Trump's refugee order

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s temporary immigration ban is facing growing opposition in Indiana.

The presidents of three Indiana universities called Sunday for a halt to the U.S. president’s temporary ban on accepting refugees and citizens from certain countries, joining Democratic lawmakers and protests in airports around the country, including in Indianapolis.

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, the former Republican governor of Indiana who was President George W. Bush’s budget director, called the order a "bad idea, poorly implemented" and said he hopes it will be revoked and rethought.

“If the idea is to strengthen the protection of Americans against terrorism, there are many far better ways to achieve it," Daniels said in a statement.

The presidents of Notre Dame and Indiana universities also said the ban should be lifted.

Trump on Sunday defended the order he signed Friday, a 90-day halt to admitting travelers with visas from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, in an effort to deter terrorism.

"This is not about religion — this is about terror and keeping our country safe," Trump said in written statement disputing the idea that the order was intended to ban Muslims from entering the country.

Read more:

Trump on Friday also ordered the secretary of Homeland Security and the director of national intelligence to review visa policy to determine whether they need more information from any countries in order to approve visas. Reports are due in 30, 60, 90 and 120 days.

Indiana's Republicans defended the order, although some lawmakers said they want to learn more about its effects.

"I join my colleagues in Congress in calling on the administration for more information and clarity around the impact of the temporary provisions in the executive order on people who already have visas or who have previously been granted legal status," said Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Carmel.

A spokesman for Columbus-based Cummins Inc., which recruits employees from around the globe, expressed concern Sunday about the message the order sends.

“Cummins values diversity and inclusion and we demand mutual respect of all people,” spokesman Jon Mills said in a statement. “We are deeply concerned by this executive order and the message it sends to ALL people.”

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a veteran who served in Afghanistan and is running to head the Democratic National Committee, participated in protests at the airport in Houston.

“This is why you make sure you know what you're doing beforehand,” Buttigieg tweeted Sunday. “Even mayoral executive orders get vetted for weeks.”

U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly blocked the executive order late Saturday and told government officials not to remove holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas from the seven majority-Muslim countries in Trump's order.She ruled the Iraqis who challenged the ban after being detained — a former translator for U.S. forces and a former U.S. military contractor employer — "have a strong likelihood of success" in a full hearing on the merits of the case to prove that the order violates their due-process and equal-protection provisions of the Constitution.

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., said in a statement Sunday he wants to monitor how the new policy is being implemented to ensure it’s not blocking Iraqis and Afghans who supported the U.S. military and are not safety threats.

"I look forward to carefully analyzing this temporary executive order and its effects, and working with this new administration and my colleagues in Congress to keep America safe while finally ending the unspeakable suffering of the Syrian people,” Young said.

Rep. Luke Messer, a member of the House GOP leadership, said it’s “way past time” for the United States to make sure it can protect Americans from terrorist threats.

"This is a pause, not a ban, while we work to ensure the U.S. has effective vetting processes,” the Shelbyville Republican said. “President Trump is right to prioritize American safety until we get this done."

Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Jimtown, said she’s looking for “greater clarity” on the implementation of the order and the administration’s review of existing refugee vetting procedures. But Walorski said the safety and security of the American people is a higher priority than addressing the humanitarian crisis and establishing stability in the Middle East.

“The temporary suspension of the refugee program and admission of individuals from countries where terrorism poses an elevated threat will allow our national security officials to examine the vetting process and strengthen safeguards to prevent terrorists from entering our homeland,” Walorski said in a statement.

Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indianapolis, said the United States "cannot ignore the high-threat environment that exists in the world."

"The president and his administration must now focus on the execution of this order, ensuring that it is implemented effectively and fairly," Rokita said in a statement.

Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh, said he supports the temporary restrictions until the United States has a verifiable vetting system. But, Bucshon added, the ban should not affect legal permanent residents or those whose refugee status or visas have previously been approved.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City, said Banks is studying the executive order and "hopes to learn more next week about how it is being implemented."

House and Senate Democrats plan to gather outside the Supreme Court on Monday evening to call on Trump to withdraw the order.

Rep. Andre Carson, one of two Muslim members of Congress and a member of the House intelligence committee, said he is writing to Trump to ask the administration to revoke the order. Carson and Sen. Joe Donnelly participated in protests at the Indianapolis International Airport on Sunday.

Donnelly tweeted Saturday, “We can make our country even safer and do so in a way that is consistent with our values. The executive order that was signed yesterday by President Trump is not one of those ways.”

State university presidents stressed the effect the order could have on international students and scholars.

IU President Michael McRobbie said the ban threatens the school’s “educational, research and service missions.”

"The directives contained in this executive order will have a considerable impact on IU's international students and scholars, many of whom are feeling frightened and unsettled, interfering with their travel plans and other commitments,” he said in a statement Sunday.

About 100 of Purdue's 40,000 students are from the countries whose citizens were temporarily banned from the U.S. by Trump and hold non-immigrant visas. About 10 faculty members are from those countries, Daniels said.

Trump's order, issued Friday, left some students and faculty members stranded outside the U.S., but Daniels said he was not aware of any Purdue students or faculty who were caught up in the controversy. He advised students and faculty who might be affected by the ban to not leave the U.S. until new guidance is issued by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security.

Notre Dame issued similar advice in response to Trump’s order, which the school’s president called sweeping and indiscriminate.

If the order stands, said the Rev. John Jenkins, it will “diminish the scope and strength of the educational and research efforts of American universities.

Above all, he added, “it will demean our nation.”

USA Today reporter Bart Jansen contributed to this story.

Contact Maureen Groppe at mgroppe@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter: @mgroppe.

Here’s what members of Indiana’s congressional delegation had to say about President Trump’s executive order temporarily barring refugees and citizens from certain countries from entering the United States:

Sen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind.: “We can make our country even safer and do so in a way that is consistent with our values. The executive order that was signed (Friday) by President Trump is not one of those ways.”

Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind: "The federal government has no more important responsibility than protecting the American people, and refugees from any country should only be permitted to enter the United States if we are certain they do not represent a threat to our citizens. I look forward to carefully analyzing this temporary executive order and its effects, and working with this new administration and my colleagues in Congress to keep America safe while finally ending the unspeakable suffering of the Syrian people. I want to ensure that the administration's new policy allows Iraqis and Afghanis who faithfully supported our troops and who face threats to their safety -- and who do not represent a terrorist threat -- are able to come to the United States."

Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Merrillville: “In response to the immediate impact of Pres. Trump’s EO, contact my office if you or your family need assistance.”

Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Jimtown: “The United States has an important role to play in addressing the humanitarian crisis and establishing stability in the Middle East, but the safety and security of the American people must be our first priority. The temporary suspension of the refugee program and admission of individuals from countries where terrorism poses an elevated threat will allow our national security officials to examine the vetting process and strengthen safeguards to prevent terrorists from entering our homeland. I hope the administration provides greater clarity in the coming days on its implementation of the order and its review of vetting procedures.”

Rep. Jim Banks, R-Columbia City: "Congressman Banks supports tightening the vetting process to ensure radical extremists who wish to harm American citizens cannot enter the United States," said spokeswoman Anna Swick. "He is studying the president's executive order and hopes to learn more next week about how it is being implemented."

Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indianapolis: “While the United States has a proud tradition of welcoming refugees into our country, we cannot ignore the high-threat environment that exists in the world. This is not a ban on Muslim refugees, as the order specifically targets a select few nations with known terrorist networks and is similar to an executive order signed by President Obama without controversy in 2011. The president and his administration must now focus on the execution of this order, ensuring that it is implemented effectively and fairly."

Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Carmel: “Keeping our country safe should be our top priority, and I agree that we must do more to improve our vetting process for foreign nationals and refugees who wish to come to our country, especially from places where terrorist organizations are active and governments are unstable or nonexistent. We know that jihadists and terrorists are using our immigration and refugee resettlement programs to infiltrate and attack our homeland. It is up to us to ensure that their efforts to do so are unsuccessful, and increased scrutiny of people traveling to the United States from such places is one way to accomplish this goal. However, I do not believe in discrimination, I do not support a religious test for immigrants or refugees, and I do support our nation's refugee resettlement program. America is a nation of immigrants, and our diversity has always been one of our greatest strengths. I join my colleagues in Congress in calling on the Administration for more information and clarity around the impact of the temporary provisions in the executive order on people who already have visas or who have previously been granted legal status.”

Rep. Luke Messer, R-Shelbyville: "This is a pause, not a ban, while we work to ensure the U.S. has effective vetting processes in place to protect Americans from terrorist threats. The details will of course matter, but it's way past time for us to develop this capability, and President Trump is right to prioritize American safety until we get this done."

Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis: “President Trump and all Americans are right to be concerned about national security, but it’s unacceptable to stigmatize an entire religion out of fear. I applaud the injunction against President Trump’s Executive Order and call on the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to respect the ruling. Congress will continue to debate immigration and national security, but now is not the time for prolonged partisan negotiations. Thousands of families are having their lives disrupted by this Executive Order and they need our help now.”

Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh: "The FBI and other intelligence agencies have made it clear publicly, and more detailed in classified briefings to members of Congress, that we do not have a comprehensive method of confidently vetting refugees and other travelers coming to the United States from certain areas of the world. Reports in the media and statements made by opponents of vetting to the contrary are false. Furthermore, the countries included in the president's executive order originate from a list of areas of concern compiled by the Obama Administration. Therefore, I support temporarily restricting the admittance of refugees and other travelers from these select areas until a verifiable system is in place to fully and completely vet whether or not the individuals admitted pose a threat to the safety of the American people. The restrictions should not affect U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. In addition, I believe people with previously approved refugee status applications or visas should be admitted to the U.S."

Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Jeffersonville: No immediate response.