On Friday President Trump signed an executive order that pauses the refugee resettlement program for the next 120 days giving time for the administration to review the application and vetting procedures for incoming refugees. Following the review, the order reduces the number of refugees to be resettled in the United States from Pres. Obama’s goal of 110,000 to the more traditional level of 50,000 -- a recommendation of the last bipartisan commission on immigration reform chaired by Barbara Jordan.
Other key components of the executive order include:
- Expedites the completion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System recommended by the 9/11 Commission. *This addresses #2 in our 10 Steps to Fix our Broken Immigration System.
- Pauses the Visa Interview Waiver Program and requires interviews of all non-immigrant visa seekers.
- Pauses the entry of non-citizens from seven countries -- Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, and Iraq -- identified by Pres. Obama and Congress in 2015 as hot spots for terror for 90 days.
- Calls for a report within 1 year of the order that estimates the long-term costs of the Refugee program at the Federal, State, and local levels.
You can view the full executive order at The New York Times.
