Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending new-refugee admissions for 120 days and blocking travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia — for 90 days. Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely.
The move stirred immediate controversy, sparking protests across the U.S. as federal authorities began enforcing the ban. WNYC, NPR and dozens of member stations wanted to help the public understand where their lawmakers stand on the issue. Collectively, they searched for public statements on Twitter, on members of Congress’s web sites and in interviews with us or other news organizations. Here's what they found:
Of the 20 members of the Illinois delegation (this includes the two U.S. Senators), 14 are opposed, three are in favor, one is unclear, and two members have not made a statement. In Iowa, one is opposed, three are in favor and two are unclear.