Heller, once troubled by Trump's travel ban, embraces ruling upholding the restrictions Most Nevada congressional delegates remain critical of high court's travel ban decision

James DeHaven | Reno Gazette-Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Supreme Court Upholds Trump Travel Ban The Supreme Court has upheld President Donald Trump's ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, rejecting a challenge that it discriminated against Muslims or exceeded his authority. (June 26)

Vulnerable Republican Senator Dean Heller appears to have warmed to President Donald Trump's divisive travel ban.

Heller, once an outspoken Trump critic who has sidled up to the president ahead of a tough re-election fight, on Tuesday applauded the Supreme Court's narrow decision to uphold an executive order barring individuals in several mostly Muslim countries from entering the United States.

“Sen. Heller believes that the Supreme Court got this right,” spokeswoman Megan Taylor wrote in a statement. “The policy reviewed was significantly narrowed in scope compared to the initial version of the travel ban, and the court’s ruling affirmed its legality based on legitimate national security interests.”

The statement seemed to mark a major shift for Nevada's senior senator, who in 2015 joined a bipartisan chorus of critics opposed to then-candidate Trump's rough-hewn plan to block Muslims from entering the U.S.

More: UPDATE: Amodei responds to Trump's immigration ban

Related: Supreme Court upholds President Trump's travel ban against majority-Muslim countries

Trump, Heller said, "has habitually crossed the line with his divisive statements, and these latest antics should not be tolerated."

Heller hardly seemed happier with the plan by the time Trump took office in January 2017, when he said he was “deeply troubled” with the appearance of a religious ban in the initial draft of the travel restrictions. He added that the use of an overly broad executive order “is not the way to strengthen national security.”

Democrats, who have repeatedly targeted the Republican senator over his past reversals on health care, immediately hailed Heller's embrace of Tuesday's travel ban ruling as a flip-flop.

“The initial executive order was overly broad and Senator Heller was concerned that it was a religious ban," said Taylor, the Heller spokeswoman, when asked about Heller's apparently softened stance toward the travel ban. "The policy has been limited in scope twice since January of 2017, and the Supreme Court reviewed the updated policy.”

U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., did not return requests for comment on the ruling.

Northern Nevada’s lone congressman last year blamed Trump's executive order on congressional gridlock, telling the Reno Gazette Journal that travel ban opponents should be staking out congressional leaders to demand comprehensive reforms instead of “allowing these issues to disintegrate further."

Here’s how the rest of Nevada’s congressional delegation reacted to the decision:

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.:

“This decision flies in the face of our nation’s founding principle of religious freedom. President Trump’s Muslim Ban is in direct opposition to American principles and sends yet another prejudiced message to Muslim-Americans, refugees and immigrants. His ban serves only to incite recruiting for ISIS and undermines efforts to protect our country. This is not who we are as Americans.”

U.S. Rep. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.:

“Denying individuals entry to the U.S. based solely on religion or nationality is wrong and out of touch with our American values. This travel ban won’t help keep us safe, and I will continue to stand up against this Administration’s ignorant and xenophobic policies.”

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev.:

“Today’s decision upholds a misguided xenophobic ban that does nothing to make us safer. Banning the people of an entire religion from immigrating to the U.S. is a betrayal of our nation’s founding principles of religious freedom and tolerance. Not only does the executive order keep out the most vulnerable, it has deterred international visitors and impacted the tourism industry in Las Vegas. I was proud to join my colleagues in filing a bicameral amicus brief to the Supreme Court in March to demonstrate my strong opposition to this harmful executive order. I will continue to fight the Administration’s actions and work to end this ban.”

U.S. Rep. Ruben Kihuen, D-Nev.:

“Today the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s racist and discriminatory Muslim Ban which further erodes our leadership position in the world and is just another example of the Trump Administration tearing families apart. The United States is made stronger every day through our diversity. The country I know is willing to give an opportunity to anyone who is willing to come here, work hard and sacrifice to achieve the American Dream. Unfortunately this decision will join the hall of shame along with other disgraceful cases before the Supreme Court. I will continue fighting to prevent immigrant communities from coming under attack.”