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Trump executive order suspends Syrian refugee program Trump executive order suspends Syrian refugee program
(35 minutes later)
An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday calls the admittance of Syrian national refugees into the US “detrimental,” and halts the visa waiver program until “sufficient changes” to the US Refugee Admissions Program are made.An executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday calls the admittance of Syrian national refugees into the US “detrimental,” and halts the visa waiver program until “sufficient changes” to the US Refugee Admissions Program are made.
"I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest," the executive order says, according to the text published by The New York Times."I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest," the executive order says, according to the text published by The New York Times.
No countries except Syria are mentioned in the order, but it refers to a statute that would apply to six other Muslim-majority nations: Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iran, Reuters reports.No countries except Syria are mentioned in the order, but it refers to a statute that would apply to six other Muslim-majority nations: Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iran, Reuters reports.
“I’m establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. Don’t want them here,” Trump said at the Pentagon earlier on Friday, as quoted by Reuters.“I’m establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. Don’t want them here,” Trump said at the Pentagon earlier on Friday, as quoted by Reuters.
“We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people,” the president added.“We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people,” the president added.
The executive order calls for a pause in visa applications for at least 120 days, or four months. However, there are some exceptions for certain types of visas, including those for diplomats and the UN.The executive order calls for a pause in visa applications for at least 120 days, or four months. However, there are some exceptions for certain types of visas, including those for diplomats and the UN.
Eventually, refugee status will be granted to Syrians, but first priority will go to those who faced religious persecution. Trump signaled that Christians in Syria would potentially receive priority status in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on Friday, according to Reuters.Eventually, refugee status will be granted to Syrians, but first priority will go to those who faced religious persecution. Trump signaled that Christians in Syria would potentially receive priority status in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on Friday, according to Reuters.
"If you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible and the reason that was so unfair, everybody was persecuted in all fairness, but they were chopping off the heads of everybody but more so the Christians," Trump said."If you were a Muslim you could come in, but if you were a Christian, it was almost impossible and the reason that was so unfair, everybody was persecuted in all fairness, but they were chopping off the heads of everybody but more so the Christians," Trump said.
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) issued a supportive statement, saying, "Our number one responsibility is to protect the homeland. We are a compassionate nation, and I support the refugee resettlement program, but it's time to reevaluate and strengthen the visa vetting process."House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) issued a supportive statement, saying, "Our number one responsibility is to protect the homeland. We are a compassionate nation, and I support the refugee resettlement program, but it's time to reevaluate and strengthen the visa vetting process."
The order took effect immediate, leading to “chaos” for Arab-Americans whose family members were already en route for a visit, the legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Abed A. Ayoub, told Reuters.The order took effect immediate, leading to “chaos” for Arab-Americans whose family members were already en route for a visit, the legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Abed A. Ayoub, told Reuters.
His concerns were echoed by Jen Smyers of the Church World Service, a protestant organization that works with refugees, who cited an Iraqi mother whose 18-year-old twin daughters are in Iraq at the moment and now “won’t be able to join their mother in the US.”His concerns were echoed by Jen Smyers of the Church World Service, a protestant organization that works with refugees, who cited an Iraqi mother whose 18-year-old twin daughters are in Iraq at the moment and now “won’t be able to join their mother in the US.”
Eleven Nobel laureates and thousands of other renowned academics have signed a petition opposing the order, calling it discriminatory and detrimental to national security.
The petition stresses that the measure imposes an undue burden on people who are “our students, friends, colleagues, and members of our communities.”
One of the petition’s organizers said on Friday that about 10 emails a minute have been pouring in, while noting 15 to 20 volunteers are working on adding signatures.