Surprised no reaction from BYD owners on this forum

[webfact]

U.S. watchdog agency to review implementation of Trump travel ban

REUTERS

 

International travelers arrive after U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order travel ban at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. January 30, 2017. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A watchdog agency at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said it is planning to review how President Donald Trump's immigration executive order to temporarily suspend travel from seven majority-Muslim nations was implemented.

 

The review of Friday's order was being planned "in response to congressional request and whistleblower and hotline complaints," the DHS's Office of Inspector General said in a statement late Wednesday.

 

The watchdog agency would also look at "DHS' adherence to court orders and allegations of individual misconduct on the part of DHS personnel," the statement said. "If circumstances warrant, the OIG will consider including other issues that may arise during the course of the review."

 

The order, which barred Syrian refugees indefinitely and imposed a 90-day suspension on people from seven predominantly Muslim countries, triggered widespread protests and caused confusion for travellers around the world.

 

It also spurred several legal challenges, in particular over the initial detention or barring from flights of legal permanent residents who hold U.S. green cards.

 

The department does not comment on investigations by the Office of the Inspector General.

 

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Tuesday that no member of the Homeland Security team intentionally ignored a court order and that the department was in compliance with judicial orders on immigration.

 

The White House said on Wednesday it had issued updated guidance making clear green card holders would not need a waiver to enter the United States.

 

In California, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled that Trump's administration must allow immigrants with initial clearance for legal residency to enter the United States despite the ban. Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Washington state have also challenged the order.

 

Ali Vayeghan, an Iranian citizen and U.S. visa holder who was forced out of the country last week, became on Wednesday the first person allowed back into United States because of the California court action.

 

Vayeghan declined to comment on Trump or the order when speaking with reporters at Los Angeles International Airport but said through an interpreter, "This is what human rights look like."

 

The OIG statement said it would provide a final report to Kelly, the U.S. Congress and the public after its review but didn't say how long the review would take.

 

DHS includes the Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies.

 

Democratic U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin had sought the investigation.

 

"Though I'm encouraged by the DHS Inspector General's decision to investigate the chaotic implementation of this un-American and unconstitutional executive order, I will continue to fight for it to be revoked," Durbin said in a statement.

 

(Reporting by Eric Walsh and Doina Chiacu; Additional reporting by Olga Grigoryants in Los Angeles; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Alan Crosby)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-03

[Andaman Al]

So what is the betting that by 5pm Friday Trump has shut down the 'special watchdog agency at the DHS' or 'fired' the boss and put a puppet in place.

Edited February 2, 2017 by Andaman Al

[craigt3365]

50 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

So what is the betting that by 5pm Friday Trump has shut down the 'special watchdog agency at the DHS' or 'fired' the boss and put a puppet in place.

That was my first thought also!  Terrible things going on in Washington...

[zaphod reborn]

3 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

So what is the betting that by 5pm Friday Trump has shut down the 'special watchdog agency at the DHS' or 'fired' the boss and put a puppet in place.

 

2 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

That was my first thought also!  Terrible things going on in Washington...

The agency will be tasked with determining which court rulings to ignore.  I smell a dictatorship brewing and the need for impeachment is becoming ever clearer.

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

A watchdog agency at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

OIG has the power by law to gather information (by subpoena if necessary), investigate and report findings to the DHS.

https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/PDFs/OIG_Guide.pdf

 

But OIG has no prosecurial power. That remains with the Department of Justice and DHS has to probably be key to making a referral to DOJ. But as we've heard from Sessions' Senate hearings, he will not operate independently from POTUS Trump's presidential directives. Ultimately, if an adverse report is produced and revealed to the public (as it must un a FOIA request but might take months for judicial enforcement), it will be pressure from public opinion that holds Trump accountable for any misstep in issuing the Muslim travel ban.

[Andaman Al]

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

OIG has the power by law to gather information (by subpoena if necessary), investigate and report findings to the DHS.

Agreed, but it only has this power if led by a boss who wants to pursue the course of action. Takeaway the boss(s) and replace them with your own and you suddenly have a compliant department. He will do it in every department of Government, he will fill all decision making jobs with his 'own' people, and you will have an entire Federal Government that will kiss his ass even if he is whipping them. The senior party politicians have been very quiet the last few days,, I wonder what's cooking. Act soon or it is goodbye America.