Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday evening lambasted President Trump's executive order that enhances screening procedures for refugees and immigrants.

"Tears are running down the cheeks of the Statue of Liberty tonight as a grand tradition of America, welcoming immigrants, that has existed since America was founded has been stomped upon," Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said in a statement. "Taking in immigrants and refugees is not only humanitarian but has also boosted our economy and created jobs decade after decade. This is one of the most backward and nasty executive orders that the president has issued."

Trump is expected to tighten protocols for visa programs in Muslim-majority countries, including Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq. The order may suspend refugee admissions from those nations for four months until the administration makes a conclusion about which post the greatest risk to national security. Trump has said Islamic State terrorists could pose as refugees in order to travel to the U.S. to carry out a terrorist attack.