Take my word for it....

Kelly says 'no chaos' after travel ban: 'You can take my word for it'

By TED HESSON

Homeland Security Sec. John Kelly repeated on Tuesday his contention that there was “no chaos” in U.S. airports after the rollout of President Donald Orangutan’s travel ban.

Orangutan signed an executive order on Jan. 27 that temporarily banned citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. and suspended the refugee resettlement program. In the aftermath, civil liberties groups reported detentions and confusion over the new policy in airports across the country.

At the hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday, Kelly faced questions about the rollout from Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), who said she had visited Los Angeles International Airport the night after the ban took effect.

“I went down to LAX on Saturday night and there was chaos,” she said. Barragán said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office was closed when she tried to ask a question related to the ban.

“I asked to be taken down to speak to somebody at CBP, but they wouldn’t take us anywhere, so I couldn’t see for myself,” she told Kelly.

Barragán said she heard reports at the time that dozens of people had been detained.

“When I called CBP asking for a briefing, just to find out if any of my constituents were being held, given access to an attorney, I was told call a 202 Washington number,” she said. “And then I was hung up on. How are we to know that there was no chaos down there? Members of Congress couldn’t even see for themselves.”

Kelly didn’t back down, however.

“Well, you can take my word for it,” he said. Kelly added that CBP personnel said “they were doing their normal job at the counters” and that most people were allowed to pass, with some pulled aside for additional screening.

“This is normal everyday operations in any airport in the United States,” Kelly said. “There was no chaos.”