Washington, Jan 25: US President Donald Trump is expected to sign executive orders starting on Wednesday that include a temporary ban on most refugees and a suspension of visas for citizens of Syria and six other Middle Eastern and African countries, say congressional aides and immigration experts briefed on the matter.
The president is expected to sign the first actions — including the measure to jumpstart construction of the wall — during a trip to the Department of Homeland Security. Additional actions will be rolled out over the next few days, according to one official.
Trump, who tweeted that a "big day" was planned on national security on Wednesday, is expected to ban for several months the entry of refugees into the United States, except for religious minorities escaping persecution, until more aggressive vetting is in place.
Another order will block visas being issued to anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, said the aides and experts, who asked not to be identified.
The current proposal includes at least a four-month halt on all refugee admissions, as well as temporary ban on people coming from some Muslim majority countries, according to a representative of a public policy organization that monitors refugee issues. The person was briefed on the details of that proposed action by a government official.
In his tweet late on Tuesday, Trump said: "Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!"
Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017
The border security measures probably include directing the construction of a border wall with Mexico and other actions to cut the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States.
The sources say the first of the orders will be signed on Wednesday. With Trump considering measures to tighten border security, he could turn his attention to the refugee issue later this week.
Stephen Legomsky, who was chief counsel at US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration, said the president had the authority to limit refugee admissions and the issuance of visas to specific countries if the administration determined it was in the public's interest.
"From a legal standpoint, it would be exactly within his legal rights," said Legomsky, a professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. "But from a policy standpoint, it would be terrible idea because there is such an urgent humanitarian need right now for refugees."
The Republican president, who took office last Friday, was expected to sign the first of the orders at the Department of Homeland Security, whose responsibilities include immigration and border security.
On the campaign trail, Trump initially proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, which he said would protect Americans from jihadist attacks.
Both Trump and his nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, have since said they would focus the restrictions on countries whose migrants could pose a threat, rather than a ban on those of a specific religion.
Many Trump supporters decried former President Barack Obama's decision to increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States over fears that those fleeing the country's civil war would carry out attacks.
Legal challenges possible
Detractors could launch legal challenges if all the countries subject to the ban are Muslim-majority nations, said immigration expert Hiroshi Motomura at UCLA School of Law.
Legal arguments could claim the executive orders discriminate against a particular religion, which would be unconstitutional, he said.
"His comments during the campaign and a number of people on his team focused very much on religion as the target," Motomura said.
To block entry from the designated countries, Trump is likely to tell the State Department to stop issuing visas to people from those nations, according to sources familiar with the visa process. He could also instruct US Customs and Border Protection to stop any current visa holders from those countries from entering the United States.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday the State and Homeland Security Departments would work on the vetting process once Trump's nominee to head the State Department, Rex Tillerson, is installed.
Other measures may include directing all agencies to finish work on a biometric identification system for non-citizens entering and exiting the United States and a crackdown on immigrants fraudulently receiving government benefits, according to the congressional aides and immigration experts.
To restrict illegal immigration, Trump has promised to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and to deport illegal migrants living inside the United States.
Trump is also expected to take part in a ceremony installing his new secretary of homeland security, retired Marine General John Kelly, on Wednesday.
Wall along Mexico border
Trump's insistence that Mexico would pay for the wall was among his most popular proposals on the campaign trail, sparking enthusiastic cheers at his raucous rallies. Mexico has repeatedly said it will not pay for any border wall.
Earlier this month, Trump said the building project would initially be paid for with a congressionally approved spending bill and Mexico will eventually reimburse the US, though he has not specified how he would guarantee payments.
Trump will meet with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the White House next week.
Comments
I think this ban can lead to the fight of American people with all the Muslims!
ishtu dina madrasa bachali galu comment haaktha idvu ,... iga madrasa kazi ne bandu message haakodu , frustration torsodu nodide ,, ivagala madrasa dalli yaava range na education kodthare antha gottagatte .. haha
No of dislikes shows how many mini Pakistanis do exists ...papa frustrated souls ...no I understand why jihadi islamic terrorist activities thriving in coastal with the funding of ISI and Isis .
Hahaha Ali ...u want chummah to be united ...Pakistan is a part of chummah and gummah ...so u want to align with them too and face western interest ? Haha .. This shows clearly jihadis are totally confused .so open agi rally maadi support torisrappa ... Mr Ali ..forget about trump ..ur entire ummah gang cannot do anything against USA proxy in middle east I.e Israel ...mujra madodu Kali .. Becoz Israelis And Americans munde entire ummah gang mujra maado dina doora illa. ....
American FEKU .......
Welcome baffoon Naren ... missing u a lot with your dombarata.....
US is not a good country for Muslims.....all sorts of immoral activities are going around...which is against Islam....The president himself is a biggest crook and full of immoral.....
BJP said go to Pakistan.. but our Naren is already in Pakistan.. lol who sent him there
All muslims country should stop thief from western nationals to enter their country. Western people are biggest lier and thief by nature. This is the time to get united to fight against thief and real terrorist. Through Trump middle east countries came to know their real face.
hahaha # george :) only fools and madrasa products can talk in that way .. pakistani econmy fastest growing ? get the facts right ... just by putting road , you cannot achieve prosperity .. haagagidre yelru road haaki bidthidru ... go and ask any manufacturing plants in pak .. they will tell the real story ... chinese are occupying pak day by day ... karachi kasa lift madodu chinese kanappa ... forget about it K electric ( karachi electricity board) adu chinese de ... adu bidu ..pakistani stock market almost controlled by chinese ... puncture shops na tegibahudu ashte in CPEC road ... do u know how many coal projects are getting cancelled due to price ? do you know how porkis are woried about eletric tariff ... hahaha fastest growing econmy anthe kumda ... pakistani is so shameless country that in order to get money from milk shakes , they give permits to hunt down houbara bastard ...even milk shakes ask they will give permit to rape their daughters also ... :) hahaha ... CPEC will face very big challenge as it passes thru disputed area ... one deadly terrorist attack in CPEC route , chinese will switch to sea based shipping ... yaake gotta .. terrorist attack aadre insurance amount jaasthi agatte , frieght costly agatte ... no exporter wants to take huge risk ...
He is a big racist!
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