Trump bars door to refugees, visitors from seven nations

[rooster59]

Trump bars door to refugees, visitors from seven nations

By Emily Stephenson and Mica Rosenberg

 

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order he said would impose tighter vetting to prevent foreign terrorists from entering the United States at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

(Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Friday put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

In the most sweeping use of his presidential powers since taking office a week ago, Trump paused the entry of travellers from Syria and the six other nations for at least 90 days, saying his administration needed time to develop more stringent screening processes for refugees, immigrants and visitors.

"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 earlier on Friday at the Pentagon.

"We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people," he said.

The order seeks to prioritize refugees fleeing religious persecution, a move Trump separately said was aimed at helping Christians in Syria. That led some legal experts to question whether the order was constitutional.

One group said it would announce a court challenge on Monday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said the order targets Muslims because of their faith, contravening the U.S. Constitutional right to freedom of religion.

"President Trump has cloaked what is a discriminatory ban against nationals of Muslim countries under the banner of national security," said Greg Chen of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

The bans, though temporary, took effect immediately, causing havoc and confusion for would-be travellers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Trump has long pledged to take this kind of action, making it a prominent feature of his campaign for the Nov. 8 election, but people who work with Muslim immigrants and refugees were scrambling on Friday night to determine the scope of the order.

Even legal permanent residents - people with "green cards" allowing them to live and work in the United States - were being advised to consult immigration lawyers before travelling outside the country, or trying to return, said Muslim Advocates, a civil rights group in Washington.

On Friday evening, Abed Ayoub of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee said he had fielded about 100 queries from people anxious about the order, which he said he believed could affect travelling green card holders, students, people coming to the United States for medical care and others.

"It's chaos," Ayoub said.

SYRIAN REFUGEES

During his campaign, Trump tapped into American fears about Islamic State militants and the flood of migrants into Europe from Syria's civil war, saying refugees could be a "Trojan horse" that allowed attackers to enter the United States.

In December 2015, he called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States, drawing fire for suggesting a religious test for immigrants that critics said would violate the U.S. Constitution.

His idea later evolved into a proposal for "extreme vetting."

Trump's order also suspends the Syrian refugee program until further notice, and will eventually give priority to minority religious groups fleeing persecution.

Trump said in an interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network that the exception would help Syrian Christians fleeing the civil war there.

Legal experts were divided on whether this order would be constitutional.

"If they are thinking about an exception for Christians, in almost any other legal context discriminating in favour of one religion and against another religion could violate the constitution," said Stephen Legomsky, a former chief counsel at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration.

But Peter Spiro, a professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law, said Trump's action would likely be constitutional because the president and Congress are allowed considerable deference when it comes to asylum decisions.

"It's a completely plausible prioritisation, to the extent this group is actually being persecuted," Spiro said.

Trump's order had been expected to include a directive about setting up "safe zones" for Syrian refugees inside the country, but no such language was included on Friday.

The order may also affect special refugee programs for Iraqis who worked for the U.S. government as translators after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

It is already affecting refugees and their families, said Jen Smyers of the Church World Service, a Protestant faith-based group that works with migrants.

Smyers said she spoke to an Iraqi mother whose twin daughters remain in Iraq due to processing delays. "Those two 18-year-old daughters won't be able to join their mother in the U.S.," she said.

POLITICAL FIRE

Democrats on Friday were quick to condemn Trump's order as un-American, saying it would tarnish the reputation of the United States as a land that welcomes immigrants.

"Today's executive order from President Trump is more about extreme xenophobia than extreme vetting," said Democratic Senator Edward Markey in a statement.

Some Republicans praised the move. Representative Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, said Islamic State has threatened to use the U.S. immigration system, making it important to do more screening.

"I am pleased that President Trump is using the tools granted to him by Congress and the power granted by the Constitution to help keep America safe and ensure we know who is entering the United States," Goodlatte said in a statement.

Republican Speaker Paul Ryan, who had panned Trump's original campaign pledge to ban Muslims from entering the United States, expressed some support on Friday.

"We are a compassionate nation, and I support the refugee resettlement program, but it's time to reevaluate and strengthen the visa vetting process," Ryan said.

"President Trump is right to make sure we are doing everything possible to know exactly who is entering our country," Ryan said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-28

 

[nottocus]

Excellent news.

[WaywardWind]

12 minutes ago, nottocus said:

Excellent news.

Excellent? Not even close...

 

It is a disgusting short-sighted resolution to an issue which simply does not exist.

 

The largest group of individuals involved in terrorist attacks in the US were US citizens (77); the second largest group were UK citizens (33). A total of only 5 individuals of 174 arrested/convicted of terrorist activity in the US in the 12 years after 9/11 were from those even countries on the ban list.

 

Nothing more than red meat for his rabid xenophobic disciples.

 

What it will do is get US outposts - embassies, consulates, NGOs, etc., and yes, Trump properties, attacked abroad. He is creating more terrorists with this nonsense, and people will die because of these orders.

[Thakkar]

Doublespeak:
Saying "never again" on holocaust Remembrance Day while barring entry to Syrian refugees.

 

or: "never again" (except right now)

[WaywardWind]

5 minutes ago, Thakkar said:

Doublespeak:
Saying "never again" on holocaust Remembrance Day while barring entry to Syrian refugees.

 

or: "never again" (except right now)

The symbolism of the timing is despicable, and you and be sure it was not coincidental.

 

And to sign these orders with a Medal of Honor hanging on the wall behind him is an atrocious and deplorable act which dishonors every single recipient.

[Thakkar]

1 minute ago, WaywardWind said:

The symbolism of the timing is despicable, and you and be sure it was not coincidental.

 

And to sign these orders with a Medal of Honor hanging on the wall behind him is an atrocious and deplorable act which dishonors every single recipient.

The anti-Semite, Bannon is whispering in his ear. It's also significant that The Holocaust is talked about in a speech without any mention of Jews, who, while far from being the only, were the primary victims.

[mamypoko]

armbands on the horizon 

[Jingthing]

14 minutes ago, Thakkar said:

The anti-Semite, Bannon is whispering in his ear. It's also significant that The Holocaust is talked about in a speech without any mention of Jews, who, while far from being the only, were the primary victims.

Yes, you're talking about trump's bizarre Holocaust remembrance day message. 

Yes, trump's people are pro-Zionist ... they want the "not really white" American Jews that aren't pro-trump (the vast majority)  to all go away to Israel as there are so many strong Jewish voices in the anti-trump resistance in Hollywood, journalists, academics, intellectuals, artists, etc. 

 

Trump’s Holocaust Remembrance Day Statement Is A Threefold Disgrace

 

 

http://forward.com/culture/361457/trumps-holocaust-remembrance-day-statement-is-a-threefold-disgrace/?attribution=home-hero-item-text-1

 

Edited January 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[Thakkar]

10 minutes ago, mamypoko said:

armbands on the horizon 

They'll be classy, beautiful armbands, believe me.

[Jingthing]

12 minutes ago, Thakkar said:

They'll be classy, beautiful armbands, believe me.

Face it, the USA is already in a "soft" civil war situation with the majority that didn't support trump opposing a demagogic insane clown with dictatorial aspirations (and now power to make it happen). A sure sign I've heard mentioned many times that the USA has gone full on fascist is if masses of trump supporters start to regularly wear clothing indicators of their loyalty to their strong man leader, like the brown shirts. (After the campaign, which is over.) I can't predict that will happen but the USA is definitely in a DANGER zone. 

Edited January 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[jackh]

The Donald has done it again!  Such good news. He could have added a few more countries, but all in all a very good start.

 

[zorro1]

Excellent? Not even close...
 
It is a disgusting short-sighted resolution to an issue which simply does not exist.
 
The largest group of individuals involved in terrorist attacks in the US were US citizens (77); the second largest group were UK citizens (33). A total of only 5 individuals of 174 arrested/convicted of terrorist activity in the US in the 12 years after 9/11 were from those even countries on the ban list.
 
Nothing more than red meat for his rabid xenophobic disciples.
 
What it will do is get US outposts - embassies, consulates, NGOs, etc., and yes, Trump properties, attacked abroad. He is creating more terrorists with this nonsense, and people will die because of these orders.

Well he can't ban American terrorism obviously. But he can stop the terrorist from abroad.

Even one life saved is worth the effort. American lives should not become collateral damage just to be politicaly correct

Good on you trump

[dunroaming]

Just more evidence of the insanity of Trump.  His fans will love it and be high fiving each other.  This is their moment so let them have it.  After all it won't last long and then it will all be reversed.

[dcutman]

3 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Just more evidence of the insanity of Trump.  His fans will love it and be high fiving each other.  This is their moment so let them have it.  After all it won't last long and then it will all be reversed.

8 years is gonna feel like a long time for some.

[Jingthing]

21 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Just more evidence of the insanity of Trump.  His fans will love it and be high fiving each other.  This is their moment so let them have it.  After all it won't last long and then it will all be reversed.

He's definitely insane and he's definitely an authoritarian demagogue. But I disagree that it's a sure thing that he can be so quickly stopped or that permanent damage can be prevented. trump is one of the biggest tests of American democracy in our history and there are no guarantees we will pass this test. 

Edited January 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[BMW Overlander]

Quote

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said the order targets Muslims because of their faith, contravening the U.S. Constitutional right to freedom of religion.

 

How ironic.

Sudden concern about Constitutional right to freedom of religion.

[Jingthing]

Just now, BMW Overlander said:

 

How ironic.

Sudden concern about Constitutional right to freedom of religion.

It's not sudden. They are speaking as decent AMERICANS. 

[WaywardWind]

 

 

50 minutes ago, steve187 said:

A Department of Justice list shows that 580 individuals have been convicted of terrorism-related activities in the United States between Sept. 11, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2014  

380 of the 580 were foreign-born (71 were confirmed natural-born, and the remaining 129 are not known), “Of the 380 24 were initially admitted to the United States as refugees, and at least 33 had overstayed their visas.

62 were from Pakistan,

28 were from Lebanon,

22 were Palestinian,

21 were from Somalia,

20 were from Yemen,

19 were from Iraq,

16 were from Jordan,

17 were from Egypt, and

10 were from Afghanistan.”  

 

full story here - http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/06/22/senate-committee-580-terror-convictions-in-u-s-since-911-380-terrorists-are-foreign-born/

[jesimps]

21 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Just more evidence of the insanity of Trump.  His fans will love it and be high fiving each other.  This is their moment so let them have it.  After all it won't last long and then it will all be reversed.

The lefties all appear to be seers of the future, unless of course it's wishful thinking.

They definitely don't like it up 'em. Go big D, great first week.

 

 

[WaywardWind]

35 minutes ago, zorro1 said:

Well he can't ban American terrorism obviously. But he can stop the terrorist from abroad.

Even one life saved is worth the effort. American lives should not become collateral damage just to be politicaly correct

Good on you trump

If that were the true goal - stopping terrorists from abroad - then why leave off the list the countries where terrorists historically have originated from?  Two reasons that I can think of - oil, and Trump investments.

 

Recall your words when a whole bunch of folks die in an attack on an embassy, a consulate, a Trump Hotel, an American NGO... That day is surely coming, and the blood will be on the hands of Trump and his cabal.

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, jesimps said:

The lefties all appear to be seers of the future, unless of course it's wishful thinking.

They definitely don't like it up 'em. Go big D, great first week.

 

 

What is it? 

[gabruce]

I'd recommend reading the executive order. It's interesting looking at how the contents match up with comments. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/27/us/politics/refugee-muslim-executive-order-trump.html

 

[Jingthing]

What trump is doing --

Not in my name.

Not in the MAJORITY of American's names either. 

 

 

 

Quote

If Trump Really Knew the Somalis of Minnesota, He Would Rethink His Cruel Ban on Refugees

But if you wanted to create a self-fulfilling prophecy, if you wanted to alienate those who wish to belong, if you wanted to estrange those who wish to live peaceably among us, if you wanted to tell those college girls and Uber drivers and airport worker and shopkeepers that you will always be viewed as an alien enemy, then you would do exactly what Trump and his complicit party are doing. And then, guess what? You just might wind up with the growing radicalization you claim to be protecting us against.

 

http://forward.com/opinion/361274/if-trump-really-knew-the-somalis-of-minnesota-he-would-rethink-his-cruel-ba/?attribution=more-articles-carousel-item-3-headline

Edited January 28, 2017 by Jingthing

[WaywardWind]

1 hour ago, nottocus said:

GO the Donald. U da man. BRing peace to the world and ignore ignorant comments like the one above.

Spoken like a true keyboard commando who has not a clue what the reaction to these orders is going to be in the Middle East, and doesn't care because it is merely entertainment.

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, rooster59 said:

temporarily barred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries

The approx. 116,000 Syrian refugees in Egypt and 650,000 Syrian refugees in Jordon are not banned then?

http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/region.php?id=84&country=107

 

[Thorgal]

Looks like seven nations where US Salvadorization didn't work as planned.

The 19 hijackers of 9/11 were Saudi's and Saudi Arabia is not listed.

Both Saudi and Qatar are exporting wahabi extremist religious doctrine into those ME countries.

Afghanistan is also not listed...

On the other hand it's perfectly allowed to serve as a US citizen in a foreign army and committing war crimes. Many US citizens went as 'volunteers' to serve for the Kurdish peshmergas, the Free Syrian Army, the Israeli Defence Forces, etc... And none of these were Muslims...

OP is rather a poor PR stunt...

Medal of Honour emblem is not a coincidence, but de-valorisation in the ME is a fact...




Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[dunroaming]

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

The lefties all appear to be seers of the future, unless of course it's wishful thinking.

They definitely don't like it up 'em. Go big D, great first week.

 

 

Don't know about the lefties as I can only speak for myself and I am anything but a leftie.  In fact right of centre I would say.  Anyway is it wishful thinking?  Yes of course it is but you have to think positively because otherwise the consequences are dire.  I don't believe that the USA will let Trump destroy their country and make it the cesspit that he is trying to do.

[Gecko123]

Showing compassion when an element of risk exists. There's no algorithm for that, Donald.

[rijb]

18 minutes ago, WaywardWind said:

You obviously do not have any inkling as to what the Medal means to those who wear it, and how diligent they are to ensure that it is never used in a fashion which would tarnish it.

 

I know three recipients, all from Vietnam, and each of them has been clear: they protect the reputation of the Medal at all times, and never use it in any political manner.

 

Trump doesn't care.  He thinks the image makes him look tough, and his supporters eat it up.

Then it's Trump's shame.  Not their shame.  Why is this so difficult for you?

[WaywardWind]

1 minute ago, rijb said:

Then it's Trump's shame.  Not their shame.  Why is this so difficult for you?

Not difficult for me at all - he intentionally used an extremely inappropriate setting to announce these orders, and he needs to be heavily criticized for it.