See who supports Trump's refugee travel ban
When President Donald Trump temporarily banned all refugees from entering the United States, almost everyone had an opinion. Immigrants railed against the decision. Others hailed the move as a key safety measure.
Trump's order, enacted Friday afternoon, banned all refugees from entering the country for 120 days, stopped Syrian refugees indefinitely and blocked entry for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, which are predominantly Muslim countries, for 90 days.
What do the lawmakers tasked with shaping America's policies on immigration think about Trump's move? We've classified the members based on their responses:
Make America Safe Again
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 33.6 percentage points
“President Trump’s actions today are the first step toward securing our country from illegal immigration. These actions will help us fight everything from human trafficking to the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S., and will also benefit the millions of people around the world who are seeking to legally become U.S. residents and citizens, to assimilate, and to participate in the American dream.”
Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Marietta:
Trump's margin of victory in district:42.6 percentage points
“I support President Trump’s temporary, three-month, precautionary action directed towards a handful of countries with a history of producing and exporting terrorists. These countries are either torn apart by violence, or under the control of hostile, jihadist governments.
The United States Government has a responsibility to carefully vet those entering our country. Period.
This is not a “Muslim ban." Many countries with majority Muslim populations, such as Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey were not included. The countries on this Trump Administration temporary ban list were previously designated by the Obama Administration, after Congress passed the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, as nations where terrorism has flourished.
We remain a nation that welcomes immigrants with open arms, but our government owes the American people safety and security; and that requires prudent polices conceived from facts and reality, not polices driven by political correctness.”
Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 34.5 percentage points
“We know that terrorists want to hurt us, and they know our refugee system is a weak point. The Administration’s pause on allowing refugees from terrorist strongholds is a commonsense solution in the effort to protect American citizens. The United States will still be a place that welcomes refugees, but we will now review our screening procedures to ensure members of ISIS and its affiliates do not infiltrate our country.”
Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 29.7 percentage points
"The safety and security of the American people should be our top priority. They deserve an immigration and visa system that properly and rigorously vets those seeking to enter the United States. We should be taking extra precautions for those traveling from terror hot-spots. Many of the nations the executive order applies to are either not friendly to the United States or would be unable to help in the identification and vetting of applicants. Re-examining the vetting process to ensure no Jihadist terrorists are slipping through the cracks is long overdue."
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Garrison (representing Northern Kentucky)
Trump's margin of victory in district: 35.9 percentage points
"Most of Trump's critics today hardly complained one year ago when President Obama signed a bill that made visas harder to obtain for people from the very same countries."
This is not who we are
Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Upper Arlington:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 15.4 percentage points
“While I agree with the President that we must improve our visa vetting process in order to better protect Americans, I believe the executive order risks violating our nation’s values and fails to differentiate between mainstream Islamic partners from radical Islamic terrorists – setting back our fight against radical Islam. I urge the Administration to quickly replace this temporary order with permanent improvements in the visa vetting process.”
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland:
Trump's margin of victory in Ohio: 8.1 percentage points
“Keeping America safe must be our top priority, and we do that by aggressively going after terrorism wherever it exists, not by turning our backs on children and families just like ours, whose only goal is to escape violence and persecution,” Brown said. “ ... Targeting women, children and families who are fleeing the very same terrorists we are fighting against is wrong, will not make America safer, and may actually undermine our long-term security.”
Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Youngstown:
Clinton's margin of victory in district: 6.5 percentage points
"These are people, Mr. President. We can't turn our backs on them. That is not who we are."
Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Columbus:
Clinton's margin of victory in district: 38.4 percentage points
“President Trump’s executive order barring refugees from Muslim-majority countries will not make America more safe. On the contrary, a religious acid test will only create greater animosity and distrust—and flies in the face of the values and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution. Central Ohio is home to a vibrant Somali population—second only in size to Minneapolis, Minnesota—and like every American, they have hopes of a brighter future for themselves, their families and friends. Instead of pushing isolationism, the Trump Administration should be reaching out to Muslim-Americans and working with the international community to find solutions to the ongoing humanitarian crises around the globe.”
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo:
Clinton's margin of victory in district: 22.2 percentage points
“This hasty and reckless Presidential action hurts many desperate, law abiding people. Simply, it eludes greatness and hurts America.”
Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Cleveland:
Clinton's margin of victory in district: 63.5 percentage points
Extreme vetting wasn't vetted
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park:
Trump's margin of victory in Ohio: 8.1 percentage points
“You have an extreme vetting proposal that didn’t get the vetting it should have had, and as a result, in the implementation, we’ve seen some problems,” Portman told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday.
Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 25.1 percentage points
“On Friday, President Trump issued the Executive Order temporarily halting the refugee program in order to develop more robust vetting procedures that can prevent those intent on doing harm from entering the United States. At the same time, it’s apparent that there was uncertainty regarding how this order was implemented and carried out, and it's important that the Administration clarify how this order affects legal residents. I’ll continue to monitor the impact of this Executive Order to ensure it is consistent with our national security goals.”
Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 7.3 percentage points
“I think the administration needs to work with Congress. I think they need a better picture of what has been done and what needs to be done, so we can keep America safe and at the same time not have the chaotic action that the administration has undertaken that impacts people’s lives.”
Portman: Trump's immigration ban 'not properly vetted'
Questioning, encouraging but not criticizing
Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Township:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 11.3 percentage points
“It is critical that America has a system in place that works to identify threats originating from countries that are hot spots for terrorism. Regarding the administration's temporary order, there are questions that need to be answered on how it is being implemented. Together with Congress, we should reevaluate our visa vetting process so that we effectively strengthen national security, uphold our values and protect our freedoms, while ensuring we are welcoming individuals and families fleeing persecution."
Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 6.6 percentage points
"Our top priority must always be the safety of the American people. A key piece to ensuring our safety is taking appropriate steps to properly vet those entering our nation, and making sure that those who would do us harm are not admitted. At the same time, our policies should be crafted and executed to minimize the impact on innocent people, particularly those who have abided by our laws and have already been vetted."
Rep. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth and a possible governor candidate in 2018:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 16.6 percentage points
“Above all else, the top priority of the federal government is to keep our nation safe for all Americans, and I have unequivocally supported full enforcement of our immigrant laws as well as enhanced vetting of individuals seeking to visit the United States from nations identified with terrorist activity, regardless of their ethnicity or religion. As a nation of immigrants, founded on the bedrock principle of religious freedom, we must never impose religious tests of or any kind on anyone, and it’s clear that President Trump’s Executive Order has not imposed one.
While I strongly encourage the Administration to examine more closely whether it is effectual and necessary to subject green card holders from these nations to this temporary order, I fully support our government’s renewed commitment to keeping Americans of all faiths safe and free across our homeland.”
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Columbia-Tusculum:
Trump's margin of victory in district: 16.1 percentage points
“After serving in Iraq, I had the honor of sponsoring and assisting two Iraqi citizens seeking asylum in the United States. After working on behalf of the United States as interpreters in our hospital in Iraq, their lives were in jeopardy if they remained in their own country. Today, they and their families are U.S. citizens. Their children are bilingual and beautiful. Both men are practicing physicians here today in our United States – productive citizens and proud Americans. Having worked with these gentlemen for one year under extreme and often intense circumstances in Iraq, I was confident in their character as they went through extensive vetting before coming to the United States.
On the other hand, the reality is that there are many who want to bring harm to our nation. I witnessed this firsthand serving in Iraq. Regardless of the amount of kindness we extended -- especially as physicians and nurses -- many of the citizens we cared for expressed gratitude for their medical care while still maintaining their desire to kill us.
For too long, our highest intelligence officials have confirmed that the inadequacy of our vetting procedures for individuals seeking to enter our country from certain war-torn regions is a serious threat to United States national security. While thoughtful clarifications are needed to address any unintended consequences of the administration’s order, temporarily pausing and taking a comprehensive look at our vetting process is a commonsense security measure. We must continue to make the safety of American citizens our top priority, while also upholding our heritage of compassion towards those fleeing persecution and the horrors of war.
Our compassion must not come at the cost of our national security -- but our security must also never cost us our national identity. Let’s take a deep breath, remedy any unintended consequences, and work to enhance the safety of our families while continuing to be a beacon of hope for persecuted people of the world who seek refuge in free lands.”
Call your office, Congressman
The Enquirer has reached out to Rep. Dave Joyce for comment. This story will be updated with their responses.
Margins of victory were compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com and Enquirer research.