Washington – The United States will admit 872 refugees this week despite an executive order by President Donald Trump halting the US refugee programme and banning most travellers from seven Muslim-majority nations.
The administration has come under increasing fire for the policy, with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announcing he would join a lawsuit filed by civil rights groups against the Trump administration.
“President Trump’s executive action is unconstitutional, unlawful, and fundamentally un-American,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “That is why my office will be filing to join the federal lawsuit against President Trump and his administration.”
Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly stressed the policy was “not a ban on Muslims,” but a means to keep Americans safe from potential terrorist threats.
US President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a visit to the Department of Homeland Security with Vice President Mike Pence (C) and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, on January 25, 2017, in Washington, DC. While at the department, Trump signed two executive orders related to internal security and to begin the process of building a wall along the US-Mexico border. (Credit Image: © Chip Somodevilla/CNP via ZUMA Wire)
In the first 72 hours since the policy took effect, 721 people with visas from affected countries were denied boarding of planes into the US, and more than 1,000 US lawful permanent residents were granted waivers to enter the country despite the policy, said Kevin McAleenan, acting head of US Customs and Border Protection.
Additionally, dual nationals from the seven Muslim-majority nations may travel to the United States using passports from another nation, he said.
“Travellers will be evaluated based on the passport they present,” McAleenan said.
For example, a British citizen who was also a citizen of one of the affected nations, would be able to enter the US using a British passport, he says, as US officials seek to clarify confusion over an executive order issued by Trump last week.
The refugees will receive waivers under a provision of the order that provides an exception for those who would undergo “hardship” because they were ready to travel.
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan expressed regret over how Trump’s order on refugees was rolled out, but defended the need to re-evaluate the refugee programme.
“We need to pause, we need to make sure the vetting standards are up to snuff so we can ensure the safety of our country,” Ryan said.
He said he supports the US refugee programme, but “we can be generous and protect national security at the same time.”
Ryan said Trump’s effort was similar to legislation that passed the lower House of Representatives after the November 2015 Paris terrorist attack that would have increased vetting of refugees, but did not become law.
Trump’s order banned citizens from Syria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Libya and Sudan for 90 days, temporarily suspended refugee admissions for 120 days and banned refugee admissions from Syria indefinitely.
-dpa
