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Donald Trump defiant as senior Republicans criticise travel ban

The President's team defends an executive order that has left hundreds in limbo, amid a growing global furore.

President Donald Trump signs executive orders at the Department of Defense
Trump defends travel ban
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Senior Republicans have criticised Donald Trump's executive order banning people from seven Muslim countries from coming to the US.

Senator John McCain said the President's order has been "confusing" and raised a number of questions.

He said the order, which has led to hundreds of people being detained at airports around the world and unable to fly, could give Islamic State propaganda material.

Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell also expressed concern, telling ABC's This Week the Government needs "to be careful".

But Mr Trump later added some clarity to his earlier move saying that the US will be issuing visas to all countries once secure policies have been put in place.



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On Sunday, a senior US administration official was quoted by Reuters as saying that implementation of the travel ban had been a "massive success story".

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It came as further protests, including one in Washington DC, took place across the US in protest at the order.

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Attorney generals from 16 states, including California and New York, said they may challenge the legality of Mr Trump's order and top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer said his party would be introducing legislation to overturn what Mr Trump had put in place.

The controversial executive order for "extreme vetting" means no visas are being issued for 90 days to migrants or visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

His order also imposed an indefinite ban on the entry of Syrian refugees as it was "detrimental to the interests of the United States".

The ban on Syrians meant that among those refused entry was a Syrian Christian Orthodox family of six, who were turned back from Philadelphia International Airport after travelling to the United States from Lebanon, sources told Reuters.

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The executive order was widely condemned around the world, with the Arab League chief voicing "deep concern".

The Iraqi parliament's foreign affairs committee said in a statement: "Iraq is in the front line of the war on terrorism ... and it is unfair that the Iraqis are treated in this way."

A crowd of protesters gathers outside of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse as a judge hears a challenge against President Donald Trump&#39;s executive ban on immigration from several Muslim countries, on January 28, 2017 in Brooklyn. The judge issued an emergency stay on part of Trump&#39;s executive order, ruling that sending refugees stopped at U.S. airports back to their countries would be harmful. (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
Airport protests over refugee ban

Some in Iraq, including hardline Shia representatives, went further, demanding the Iraqi PM expel US citizens in retaliation.

Senior politicians in several European countries also criticised the order, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French and Swiss foreign ministers.

In the UK, the Foreign Office said Britons with dual citizenship will be exempt from Donald Trump's controversial travel ban, despite earlier concerns they would not.

But Mr Trump's allies stepped in to defend him during the Sunday morning political programmes on US television.

His adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News Sunday: "In terms of the upside being greater protection of our borders and people, it's a small price to pay."

White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said it might be possible that the number of countries included in the ban would be increased, possibly to include Pakistan.

He also added to the confusion over whether people who have green cards, which would normally give them the right to come to the US without a visa, would be allowed to enter.

In an interview with CBS News he said they would be allowed to enter, but then added that they would be subject to extra checks.

On Sunday, US Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said: "In applying the provisions of the President's Executive Order, I hereby deem the entry of lawful permanent residents to be in the national interests."

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