The Latest: Rep. Stewart backs Trump’s revised travel ban

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The Latest on Utah reaction to President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban (all times local):

4:35 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart is backing President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban while Sen. Mike Lee is giving it a more lukewarm review.

Stewart said in a statement Monday that the new order temporarily stopping all refugees and banning new visas for citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries helps keep citizens safe. He says he learned as a member of the House Intelligence Committee that terrorist groups may be using the refugee program to infiltrate the United States.

Lee says he agrees that national security is the top priority but also is proud of Utah’s proud tradition of welcoming refugees. He said in a statement that he hopes the Trump administration can create a “safe and efficient” vetting system by the time the 120-refugee ban is lifted so the U.S. can continue to “open our hearts and serve those in need.”

Stewart and Lee are Republicans.

Fellow Republican U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, applauded the revise ban for making significant progress toward minimizing impacts on innocent travelers and refugees fleeing violence and persecution.

Utah refugee officials and Muslim advocates criticize the revised travel ban for still unfairly targeting refugees and Muslim countries.

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2:05 p.m.

Utah refugee officials and Muslim advocates say President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban doesn’t alleviate their concerns with an initiative they contend unfairly targets refugees and Muslim countries.

Noor Ul-Hasan, a leader in Utah’s Muslim community, said Monday that federal officials should focus on figuring out if there are ways to strengthen an already strenuous refugee vetting process rather than singling out Muslim countries.

Aden Batar, director of immigration and refugee resettlement for Catholic Community Services of Utah, says refugees are stuck in dangerous countries. He says his organization will likely have to lay off workers due to the temporary halt of refugee entries.

Republican U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, though, says in a statement that the revised ban makes significant progress toward minimizing impacts on innocent travelers and refugees fleeing violence and persecution.