Trump's New Travel Ban 'A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing': Mayor Rahm Emanuel

CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Rahm Emanuel wasn't swayed by the Trump administration's revised travel ban — a measure that replaces the president's earlier executive order targeting travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries that was derailed by the courts — calling the new order "a wolf in sheep's clothing — different packaging intended to achieve the same result."

"It is a betrayal of our nation's values that our government would slam the door on refugees fleeing war, death and unimaginable conditions, that our government would divide families, and that our government would attempt to exclude people based on their religion," the mayor said in a statement Monday, March 6, after the new order was announced by the White House. "This executive order runs contrary to the ideas America was founded upon and the ideals that have made America a beacon of hope around the world."

President Donald Trump's original order — widely criticized by Emanuel and others when it was implemented and sparking protests around the country after hundreds of travelers were detained at airports — banned immigration to the United States for 90 days by citizens from the following seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. The new order officially revokes the first.

RELATED: New Immigration Ban Rolls Back Restrictions On Iraqis, Syrians

Here is an outline of the new ban's guidelines:

• It does not apply to lawful permanent residents or people who have already received visas.
• Iraq has been removed the list of targeted countries, but the other six countries from the executive order remain.
• Syrian refugees, who were indefinitely refused entry under the original order, will now be treated the same as all other refugees.
• All refugee admissions will be paused for 120 days.
• Homeland Security and the Justice Department must release statistics on U.S. crimes committed by citizens of other countries, including "information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including so-called 'honor killings,' in the United States by foreign nationals."

The new ban also will not be implemented until March 16, a delay meant to eliminate the chaos and confusion by the previous executive order's immediate rollout. However, that gap does create an opportunity for "dangerous people" to avoid the new order's restrictions, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said Monday.

RELATED: Trump's 'Muslim Ban': Where Does Your Representative Stand?

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), one of Trump's most vocal critics on Captiol Hill, also spoke out against the new order in a statement Monday:

“Just like his last Muslim ban, this executive order plays into our enemy’s hands by giving them a propaganda tool to spread a false narrative about the United States hating Muslims. This ban will not make our country safer and betrays the American values those of us who served in uniform fought to defend. Discrimination is discrimination and no amount of sugarcoating by the President will change that.

“President Trump’s last Muslim ban created chaos for my constituents and Americans across the nation. Multiple federal courts rightfully halted implementation over concerns surrounding its legality and constitutionality. I am confident this new order will not stand either, if not in the courts then at the ballot box.”

More than a dozen air travelers were detained at O'Hare International Airport on the first day in January that the initial executive order was put into effect. Impromptu protests at the airport began once word leaked of the detainments, and lawyers from around the Chicago area volunteered their time to help those affected travelers navigate the legal waters of the order, pro bono.

RELATED: Mulsim-Ban Detainees At O'Hare Released

At the time, Emanuel was one of a group of elected officials, including U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-8th District) and Brad Schneider (D-10th District), that went to the airport during the demonstrations.

At least one event is already scheduled to protest the Trump administration's new travel ban. A coalition of Chicago activist groups are organizing a demonstration at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at the Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearbon St.

"Donald Trump just signed a revised executive order that looks like a duck, walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, so we call it what it is: an extension of the Muslim ban," said Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of Chicago's Arab Action Network, during a press conference Monday.

WATCH: Monday's press conference with a coalition of Chicago activist groups concerning the new travel ban:

Patch Editor Cody Fenwick also contributed to this report.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and President Donald Trump (Emanuel photo via Patch archive; Trump photo via The White House)

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Live Traffic and Transit Updates