As court battles swirl around President Trump’s constraints on who can enter the U.S., his top Homeland Security official will face tough questioning Tuesday from lawmakers concerned about the legality of his restrictions and their haphazard rollout.
In his first appearance before Congress since Trump temporarily halted refugees and barred entry for people from seven countries, sowing chaos at airports and spawning protests, Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly will be in the awkward position of defending the execution of a directive he didn’t see until the week it was issued and wasn’t told was coming until the day before it was signed.
In the meantime, travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries targeted by Trump’s temporary ban — Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen — hurried to board flights to the U.S. during what might be a brief window to enter the country while challenges to the president’s order are heard in federal appeals court.
A lawsuit attempting to overturn Trump’s travel ban appears to be on the fast track to the Supreme Court; judges on the San Francisco-based U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled arguments for Tuesday.
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), advised Trump on the travel restrictions late last year after Trump was elected and defended the president’s decision to implement them. But McCaul has criticized how the orders were carried out.
Not just 'bad hombres': Trump is targeting up to 8 million people for deportation Brian BennettWhen President Trump ordered a vast overhaul of immigration law enforcement during his first week in office, he stripped away most restrictions on who should be deported, opening the door for roundups and detentions on a scale not seen in nearly a decade.
Up to 8 million people in the country illegally...
When President Trump ordered a vast overhaul of immigration law enforcement during his first week in office, he stripped away most restrictions on who should be deported, opening the door for roundups and detentions on a scale not seen in nearly a decade.
Up to 8 million people in the country illegally...
(Brian Bennett)“It is clear adjustments are needed,” McCaul said in a statement last week. “In the future, such policy changes should be better coordinated with the agencies implementing them and with Congress to ensure we get it right — and don’t undermine our nation’s credibility while trying to restore it.”
The internal watchdog for the Department of Homeland Security began investigating the implementation of the order last week.
Appearing before McCaul’s panel, Kelly will also face questions about Trump’s instructions to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico and how the administration intends to pay for it. Costs have been estimated at $12 billion to $38 billion.
Trump’s order stripping away most restrictions on who should be deported is also expected to come up.
As many as 8 million people in the country illegally are being targeted for deportation, a far larger group than the criminals and “bad hombres” Trump has repeatedly described as his priorities for kicking out of the country.
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't missThe Patriots stun the Falcons with a history-making comeback, beating Atlanta in the game's first-ever overtime, Californians are paying billions for power they don't need. Despite Trump's orders, it's business at usual at the U.S. border. Following Trump's executive order to fast-track two pipelines, thousands converged in downtown L.A. on Sunday to protest.
The Patriots stun the Falcons with a history-making comeback, beating Atlanta in the game's first-ever overtime, Californians are paying billions for power they don't need. Despite Trump's orders, it's business at usual at the U.S. border. Following Trump's executive order to fast-track two pipelines, thousands converged in downtown L.A. on Sunday to protest.
Caption 90 seconds: 4 stories you can't missThe Patriots stun the Falcons with a history-making comeback, beating Atlanta in the game's first-ever overtime, Californians are paying billions for power they don't need. Despite Trump's orders, it's business at usual at the U.S. border. Following Trump's executive order to fast-track two pipelines, thousands converged in downtown L.A. on Sunday to protest.
The Patriots stun the Falcons with a history-making comeback, beating Atlanta in the game's first-ever overtime, Californians are paying billions for power they don't need. Despite Trump's orders, it's business at usual at the U.S. border. Following Trump's executive order to fast-track two pipelines, thousands converged in downtown L.A. on Sunday to protest.
Caption Community leaders rally in solidarity with Muslim communityJarin Islam of the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council joins other community advocates and leaders for a news conference and solidarity rally with the Muslim community of Los Angeles.
Jarin Islam of the Wilshire Center-Koreatown Neighborhood Council joins other community advocates and leaders for a news conference and solidarity rally with the Muslim community of Los Angeles.
Caption Unique Bella wins Las Virgenes Stakes3-year-old filly is impressive
3-year-old filly is impressive
Caption Thousands in L.A. protest proposed Dakota Access pipelineThousands of people gathered Sunday in downtown Los Angeles to protest the proposed $3.8-billion Dakota Access pipeline, which activists across the country say threatens the water supply and sacred sites of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.
Thousands of people gathered Sunday in downtown Los Angeles to protest the proposed $3.8-billion Dakota Access pipeline, which activists across the country say threatens the water supply and sacred sites of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.
Caption Travel ban: Supporters and opponents square off at LAXOpponents of President Trump's executive order on refugees and immigration began rallying in front of Tom Bradley International Terminal around 11 a.m. They were joined about an hour later by a smaller group of travel ban supporters who stationed themselves across the roadway.
Opponents of President Trump's executive order on refugees and immigration began rallying in front of Tom Bradley International Terminal around 11 a.m. They were joined about an hour later by a smaller group of travel ban supporters who stationed themselves across the roadway.
Twitter: @ByBrianBennett
brian.bennett@latimes.com
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