Alexander, Corker see Trump’s new travel ban as an improvement

Some Republican senators who were critical of President Trump’s first executive order restricting travel from seven majority Muslim nations see his new version, covering six countries with revisions otherwise, as a substantive improvement, reports Politico. That includes Tennessee’s two U.S. senators.

Excerpt:

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), who said Trump’s initial ban “needed more vetting,” on Monday said the revised version “appears to be a wiser approach to reviewing how we scrutinize those traveling to the United States from war-torn countries.”

Still, Alexander added, Monday’s order “should last only as long as it takes to complete the review” of immigrant vetting procedures that Trump has proposed.

…Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker, who also criticized Trump’s January travel ban, offered some limited praise for the roll-out of the new plan.

“I am very encouraged by the inter-agency approach the administration has taken to develop and implement the revised executive order,” said Corker, adding that he was pleased that Iraq was removed from the countries subject to visa restrictions. The Tennessee Republican also said reviewing the nation’s screening and vetting procedures is “an appropriate step” and that he is hopeful these programs will then be reinstated.