Local Republican lawmakers support Trump ban, Casey does not
U.S. House Republicans from southwest Pennsylvania on Monday backed President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration signed on Friday, while the state’s U.S. senators split on the move that ignited criticism and protests as travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries were detained at airports across the country.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., left a formal function in a tuxedo Friday to stand with protesters at Philadelphia International Airport and meet with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials. He was joined by Gov. Tom Wolf and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, both Democrats.
On Monday, Casey sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly expressing his “disappointment” at Trump’s actions and saying the order “flies in the face of American history and values.”
Casey urged Kelly “to advise the president to rescind this ill-advised, damaging and discriminatory executive order.” Although the travelers detained in Philadelphia were later released, Casey said he was “extremely disappointed” that CBP officials refused to allow federal or state officials to meet with the detainees.
“It was clear that they were following instructions from Washington,” Casey wrote.
He also posed several questions to Kelly, including asking how many people have been turned away from or detained at Pennsylvania airports, seeking clarification on detaining policies and protocols and asking how Homeland Security will comply with court orders blocking parts of the executive order.
While Casey was on the ground in Philadelphia, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., was attending a seminar hosted by the billionaire Koch brothers, who spent $3 million on his re-election campaign, in Palm Springs, California.
Toomey came under intense scrutiny for not commenting on the executive order and its backlash over the weekend, especially in light of his promise after the election that he would not be a “rubber stamp” for Trump’s policies, even though he voted for Trump.
In a statement released Monday, Toomey said he supports “the administration’s decision” to increase vetting of refugees and immigrants and “temporarily suspend” the entry to travelers from countries that harbor terrorists or will not prosecute terrorists in their countries.
Toomey said terrorists have “infiltrated refugee populations” in Europe and carried out attacks.
With that said, Toomey added that the executive order was “flawed — it was too broad and poorly explained,” which resulted in permanent residents and others here legally being denied entry.
The Trump administration, Toomey said, has “clarified” that the order does not apply to permanent residents and State and Homeland Security secretaries can grant exceptions, including for foreign nationals who have served in support roles for the American military.
U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Sewickley, rejected the “Muslim ban” label that critics placed on the executive order, pointing out that it did not apply to many other Muslim countries in a statement he tweeted out on Monday.
“It sets up a pause on immigration from nations that have been torn apart by jihadist terrorists or controlled by jihadist governments to ensure that appropriate screening is taking place,” Rothfus said. “These jihadists have been clear about their intentions of infiltrating the West’s refugee programs.”
U.S. Bill Shuster, R-Everett, said he supported Trump’s executive order in a statement released on Monday.
“The safety and security of the American people is my top priority, and it is clear that ISIS will stop at nothing in order to find a path to American soil,” he said.
“There’s unfortunately already a lot of politics being brought into this conversation, but this decision is about one thing and one thing only — national security,” Shuster said. “President Trump is taking the necessary steps to ensure we strengthen our vetting procedures so that everything that can be done is being done to protect this nation from radical Islamic terrorists.”
U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair Township, released a statement Sunday night in which he said the “first priority is the safety of the American people and we have seen in Europe how poorly crafted immigration policies have increased the risk of terrorism and the number of terrorist attacks.”
Murphy said he hoped the Trump administration could “improve the screening process for those who wish to enter our country from dangerous places around the world.”