TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) -- Arizona lawmakers have raised concerns about how President Trump's immigration executive order may impact Iraqi pilots training in Tucson.
In a joint statement released Sunday by Senator Lindsay Graham and Senator John McCain, the lawmakers wrote in part:
"At this very moment, American troops are fighting side-by-side with our Iraqi partners to defeat ISIL. But this executive order bans Iraqi pilots from coming to military bases in Arizona to fight our common enemies."
The 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard at the Tucson International Airport serves as an F-16 training ground for foreign pilots, including Iraqi pilots.
Senator McCain also addressed his concerns Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." McCain says he is concerned about what will happen with the Iraqi pilot program, and that President Trump's order has created confusion.
Representative Martha McSally also addressed the foreign pilot program in a statement saying, in part:
"I have concerns about certain individuals being denied entry, such as green card holders, those who served alongside our military, and partner military service members who train here, such as Iraqi pilots in Tucson."
KGUN9 reached out to the 162nd Wing for clarification. In a statement Lt. Lacey Roberts says it is working closely with the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security to determine the "practical impact" of the executive order.
Below is the written statement provided by Lt. Roberts:
"The high importance we place on the Iraq-U.S. relationship has not changed. Working by, with, and through the Government of Iraq to defeat ISIS in Iraq is still among our top priorities as a Department and as a government. There are currently 30 Iraqi student pilots in the F-16 training pipeline. That includes students in language school, initial pilot training and those students at the 162nd Wing in the F-16 b course, flight upgrade and seasoning training."
The agency referred KGUN9 to the State Department for further questioning.
