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Trump's Order on Refugees Roils Capitol Hill

by Michael Bowman

   CAPITOL HILL --

   President Donald Trump's order turning back refugees worldwide, as well
   as arrivals from seven majority Muslim nations, roiled Capitol Hill on
   Monday, uniting Democrats in full-throated opposition to the measure
   and shining an uncomfortable spotlight on Republicans.

   The executive order prompted thunderous denunciations inside the
   Capitol and at a protest outside.

   "No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!" about a thousand
   demonstrators chanted in front of the Supreme Court building.

   On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York
   Democrat, accused Trump of giving America's enemies a propaganda
   bonanza.

   Farah Amer Kamal, from Iraq, speaks with Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee,
   D-Texas, left, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, and
   Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, and other members of
   Congress nearby in front of the Supreme Court about President Donald
   Trump's recent executive orders in Washington, Jan. 30, 2017.

   "They [Islamic State radicals] want nothing more than to paint the
   United States as a country at war with Islam," Schumer said. "This
   [executive] order feeds right into the perception ISIS and other
   extremists want to create. The bottom line: The policy will make us
   less safe, not more safe," he said, using an acronym for Islamic State.

   Republican support

   Democrats pressed for immediate Senate consideration of a bill that
   would reverse the executive order, but Republicans objected.

   "I've heard lots of claims on TV about 134 Muslims who could be
   affected [by the order]," said Republican Tom Cotton of Arkansas. "Of
   course, that leaves 1.6 billion Muslims who are not affected."

   A similar argument was made in the House of Representatives.

   "President Trump's executive order simply restores sanity of America's
   immigration policy," said Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana.