WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The administration of President Donald Trump loosened a restriction on legal residents holding green cards returning to the United States from overseas travel after a weekend of confusion, protests and worldwide outcry over a sweeping immigration order.

The executive order signed by Trump on Friday afternoon curtailing travel by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries was met with befuddlement at airports as customs and immigration agents grappled with the new rules.

Protests erupted around the country, lawsuits were filed and a federal judge blocked deportation of those detained under the order, which drew criticism from immigration and human rights activists, Democratic lawmakers and leading Republicans.

Senator Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a Trump supporter, said the president’s order had been poorly implemented, particularly for green card holders.

“The administration should immediately make appropriate revisions, and it is my hope that following a thorough review and implementation of security enhancements that many of these programs will be improved and reinstated,” Corker said.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees customs, border and immigration agencies, struggled to interpret and implement the order over the weekend.

The fate of green card holders was a particular point of confusion, with both DHS and administration officials saying citizens of the seven affected countries holding U.S. green cards would be denied re-entry without a rescreening process.

All U.S. green card holders, who are legal permanent U.S. residents, were included in Trump’s executive action and were required to undergo additional screening before re-entering the country, administration officials said on Saturday.

Late on Sunday, Homeland Security said those legal permanent residents would be admitted, subject to security checks.

more:     http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/after-outcry–u-s–loosens-curb-on-re-entry-by-green-card-holders/42916924

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey)