Senators to Mattis: Push for exemption to Trump immigration order

A bipartisan trio of senators want Defense Secretary James Mattis to press President Trump for an exemption to his temporary immigration ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), as well as GOP Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.), sent a letter to Mattis asking him to “encourage the president” to allow Iraqis who aided the U.S. military to be allowed to enter the country.

“We recognize that much of the responsibility for implementing this Executive Order falls outside of your official duties as Secretary,” they wrote. “[But] we urge you to intercede with the President and we support any efforts you make toward that end.”

Lawmakers and outside groups have raised concerns that Trump’s executive order, signed on Friday evening and impacting nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iraq, could have negative blowback for cooperation between Iraqis and the U.S. military.

{mosads}Iraqis who were granted what’s known as special immigrant visas have been caught in the ban, with some detained at U.S. airports over the weekend.

Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said this week that Mattis is working on a list of Iraqis who the Pentagon believes should be exempted from the temporary ban.

The senators added in their letter that the hang up is “one specific example of the danger the Executive Order poses to our national security.”

“We respectfully request that you encourage the President to immediately ensure that properly vetted Iraqis who supported the U.S. mission in their country can continue to enter the U.S,” they said.

The senators also noted that Mattis voiced support for the visa program as part of his responses during his conformation process, including detailing how he wrote letters to Iraqis who helped the U.S. military.

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers sent a similar letter to Trump on Monday.