Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is calling for hearings on President Donald Trump's executive orders on immigration, Politico reports.
"These executive orders, which have dramatic implications for our immigration system, are inconsistent with America's heritage as a nation of immigrants and a safe haven for those fleeing persecution," Durbin says in a letter to Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn.
A copy of the letter was obtained by Politico. Cornyn and Durbin are the new leaders of the Senate subcommittee on immigration, according to the website.
"The subcommittee has an urgent responsibility to address the serious questions that have been raised about the legality, efficacy and morality of these orders," Durbin adds.
Durbin is seeking hearings on a trio of executive orders from Trump on immigration, including the one centering on refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority nations, which is now on hold by the courts, Politico says.
In his letter, Durbin notes the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general is already investigating how the order was implemented. He said the probe came from a request by both him and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.
"We must show President Trump that Congress is an independent branch of the federal government that will not be intimidated by his bullying behavior and immediately begin hearings on his immigration and refugee executive orders," Durbin said.
WMAQ-TV in Chicago reports the DHS probe will investigate the "apparent indiscriminate detention" of legal U.S. residents and previously vetted travelers from the countries included in the ban…
"Though I'm encouraged by the DHS Inspector General's decision to investigate the chaotic implementation of this un-American and unconstitutional executive order, I will continue to fight for it to be revoked," Durbin was quoted by the TV station.