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Republicans Divided Over Immigration Ban
Republican Senators Tweeted Mixed Reactions to the Recent Executive Order on Immigration
By Geneva Heffernan, Journalism Student, Temple University
The executive order issued on January 27 banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries brought about mixed reactions from U.S. senators, particularly within the Republican Party. Senators took to Twitter to inform their constituents and the world of their stances on the ban.
Thirty-three percent of Republican senators opposed all or some part of the executive order on Twitter. This pushback illustrates some discord between the Republican Party and President Donald Trump, and some senators did not hide their disappointment.
Two such senators are Colorado’s Cory Gardner and Arizona’s Jeff Flake. Gardner wrote, “While I am supportive of strengthening our screening processes and securing our borders, a blanket travel ban goes too far… I urge the Administration to take the appropriate steps to fix this overly broad executive order.” Flake expressed concern for religious freedoms and clouded perceptions, “President Trump and his administration are right to be concerned about national security, but it’s unacceptable when even legal permanent residents are being detained or turned away at airports and ports of entry. Enhancing long term national security requires that we have a clear-eyed view of radical Islamic terrorism without ascribing radical Islamic terrorist views to all Muslims.”
Iowa’s Joni Ernst gently opposed the ban in her tweet following the release of the executive order.
“With respect to the President’s Executive Order, there must be more clarity surrounding the order’s implementation. In our efforts to protect our nation from ISIS, we also must ensure we are not inadvertently penalizing our allies in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism– especially those who have supported U.S. military efforts in Iraq.”
Ernst was not alone in her criticism of the order’s implementation, where some statements in support of the ban also mentioned difficulties in the order’s enactment. Michael Crapo of Idaho said in part of his statement, “I fully agree with the President's intention to improve security at our borders and more fully vet those entering our country. That said, the way this order is implemented in the coming days and weeks may change as we've already seen unintended consequences for holders of legal green cards and others who were initially detained.”
In an extended response from South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham, he wrote that he is “particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security. Such a hasty process risks harmful results.” While opposition, such as Graham’s, came for a variety of reasons, a third of the Republican Party’s senate representation challenging a decision by its party leader demonstrates the controversial nature of the executive order.
While many vocalized their opinions in the first few days following the ban, 40 percent of Republican senators did not post anything to Twitter regarding the executive order, and nine percent released neutral statements.
Those in support of the ban ranged in their statements as well, some expressing more adamant stances. Montana’s Steve Daines wrote, “We are at war with Islamic extremists and anything less than 100 percent verification of these refugees’ backgrounds puts our national security at risk. We need to take the time to examine our existing programs to ensure terrorists aren't entering our country. The safety of U.S. citizens must be our number one priority.”
In the gender breakdown of all senators, 85 percent of female senators opposed the executive order, while 60 percent of male senators did the same. The partisan breakdown of gender reflects the trend of opposition since Democrats account for 80 percent of female senators and only 40 percent of male senators.
The Democratic senators were unified in their response, as all 41 unanimously released statements in opposition to the ban within the first three days of its release.
The immigration executive order was supported by 19 percent of Republican senators, and merely nine percent of all senators.
The immigration executive order divided up the Republican Party, particularly in the senate, where reactions to the ban varied from senator to senator.