Understanding President Trump's Executive Orders: Refugees

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Executive Order: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States

The order aims to limit people, whether through visa or as a refugee, from entering the United States by doing the following. Note that right now the Executive Order is in litigation.

  • Suspend efforts to provide visas to individuals from certain countries.
  • Decide what information is required from the individual’s country before giving out a visa.
  • Once a determination is made about the information, require foreign governments not supplying this information to do so.
  • The Secretary of Homeland Security or State may offer opinions on which countries should be on the banned list, and who should be taken off.
  • Allow for a case-by-case review for individuals that need a visa for certain reasons, such as but not limited to, escaping religious persecution.
  • Suspension of the Refugee Admission Program (USRAP) for at least 120 days.
  • Once USRAP resumes, claims by people who are of the minority religion of religious persecution will have priority.
  • No Syrian refugees allowed indefinitely.
  • Only up to 50,000 refugees will be allowed in the fiscal year of 2017.
  • Speeded completion of a Biometric Entry-Exit tracking system for all who travel to the United States.
  • Suspension of the Visa Interview Waiver Program.
  • All individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa must have an in-person interview.