President Trump’s temporary ban on visitors from seven Muslim-majority nations has sharply divided Americans, according to a new poll.
The Reuters/Ipsos survey released Tuesday found that slightly more people approved of Trump’s controversial measure than disapproved.
Forty-nine percent said they either “strongly” or “somewhat” agreed with Trump’s recent executive order on immigration and refugees.
Pollsters also found 31 percent feel “more safe” after last Friday’s action, while 26 percent feel “less safe” instead.
Thirty-eight percent said the U.S. is setting “a good example” of how to best fight terrorism, contrasted by 41 percent maintaining it shows “a bad example” instead.
Trump signed an executive order Friday imposing a 90-day ban on visitors from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan and Yemen, while vetting procedures for entry are reviewed.
The measure also froze general refugee admissions into the U.S. for 120 days, adding an indefinite halt on Syrian refugees due to Syria’s ongoing civil war.
Trump’s decision has since sparked global debate, with Democrats and human rights groups arguing it is unconstitutional and biased against Muslims.
The president on Sunday rejected such criticisms, arguing his executive action will strengthen national security.
“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting,” Trump said in a statement. "This is not about religion — this is about terror and keeping our country safe.”
Trump’s order has roiled the federal government, with some agencies refusing or struggling with its implementation.
The president fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates late Monday after she announced the Justice Department would not defend the order in court.
Trump selected Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates until his attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions
Jeff Sessions'Idiots' — Senate tensions boil over Marijuana legalization must include justice reform Overnight Regulation: Republicans put Obama coal rule on chopping block MORE (R-Ala.) gets Senate confirmation. That vote could occur this week.
Reuters conducted its latest survey of 1,201 U.S. adults via online interviews from Jan. 30-31. It has a 3 percent margin of error.
