Speaker Ryan defends Trump travel ban
Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan defended President Donald Trump’s executive order temporarily banning new arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries during a House GOP press conference Tuesday morning.
Ryan, however, was somewhat critical of the rollout of the ban, particularly that green card holders and translators who worked with U.S. forces in Iraq were initially affected by it. He said that he had talked with Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly about the matter, and that he was confident any similar rollouts would be handled “correctly” in the future.
It was “regrettable that there was some confusion” after the order was signed, Ryan said.
A number of Republican lawmakers have been critical of the ban in recent days. Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican, even went to so far as to say it could hamper counterterrorism efforts and help terror groups attract new members by giving them “more propaganda.” Ryan said he was more concerned that “the rhetoric surrounding this could be used as a recruiting tool” by terrorists.
Other lawmakers said that they found out about the order only when it was reported in the press, although Ryan said he learned of it as it was being issued.
Ryan was less forthright in his criticism and said the ban was in keeping with a House bill that looked to overhaul the refugee vetting system passed in the wake of the attack on Paris in 2015.
The Speaker also said the president was well within his authority to issue such an order, and that there is “nothing wrong with taking a pause” to ensure new arrivals are thoroughly vetted.
