President Donald Trump’s weekend order for a U.S. military strike on Iran sparked debate on Capitol Hill yesterday over the legality of the operation conducted without prior congressional approval. Laura Figueroa Hernandez reports in NEWSDAY that Suffolk County’s two House Republicans — Reps. Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota — defended Trump green-lighting Saturday's bombardment of three nuclear-enrichment sites in Iran, arguing he acted within his authority as commander in chief. Congressional Democrats expressed support for U.S. ally Israel and for preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, but argued Congress should have been notified before the United States launched a potentially war-inducing mission. Congressman LaLota (R-Amityville) in a statement to Newsday said Trump’s order was “necessary and lawful” and reflected “a broader pattern of U.S. presidents using military force in the Middle East without first securing congressional authorization.”

“Like his three immediate predecessors, President Trump exercised his constitutional war powers for limited, high-impact operations,” said LaLota, who represents the east end and is a U.S. Navy veteran.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), following retaliatory strikes from Iran aimed at a U.S. military base in Qatar on Monday, said he requested a classified briefing from the Trump administration and demanded administration officials “lay out exactly what measures they’re taking — right now — to keep our servicemembers safe.”

“The law requires the Trump administration to consult with Congress,” Schumer said in a statement. "The Constitution demands it. And the American people — especially the families of those in harm’s way — deserve nothing less.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on the Trump administration to “fully explain to the American people the rationale for this military action and a strategy to avoid being mired in another Middle Eastern war.”

“No further military actions should be allowed without proper congressional approval,” Gillibrand said. “Avoiding further escalation is essential to the peace and security of Israel, the U.S., and our partners in the region. I urge the president and Iran to pursue a diplomatic resolution to this conflict.”

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Parishioners came pouring out of St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead Sunday evening after the weekly Spanish-language mass. The sanctuary was packed — as it is every Sunday evening — with a standing room-only crowd. Those who exited by the front doors plucked a rose from the floral arch that graced the walkway there, and greeted friends and neighbors, as usual. Then, they did something very unusual. They picked up signs they’d placed alongside the rectory building before mass and assembled on St. John’s Place for a walk and rally to support immigrants. Outside the church, they were joined by other community members in solidarity with the cause. Denise Civiletti reports on Riverheadlocal.com that carrying signs and small American flags, a crowd of about 275 people lined up behind two women carrying a very large American flag. Jessica Ruiz, director of St. John’s social parish ministry and food pantry, led the crowd in a popular chant as the march stepped off: “El pueblo unido jamás será vencido… El pueblo unido jamás será vencido…” (“The people, united, will never be defeated.”)

The marchers continued chanting as they walked around the large downtown block between St.