Trump Administration Lifts Refugee Entry Ban for Iran and Ten Other Countries
The US Secretary of Homeland Security says the ban on refugees from “high-risk countries” in the Middle East and Africa has been lifted, but these refugees can enter the United States only after “additional security screening.”
According to Reuters, “Kirstjen Nielsen,” who succeeded “John Kelly,” said Monday night that this change came after a 90-day review of refugee acceptance procedures from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria by the Department of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies. No further restrictions will be imposed based on the nationality of refugees.
This is the latest decision by President Trump’s administration since taking office regarding refugee entry. During his presidential campaign, Mr. Trump had promised to tighten restrictions on entry of citizens from certain countries and refugees as part of ensuring American security. The US President suspended visas for several predominantly Muslim countries and halted refugee entry from several similar countries in two separate executive orders last February.
Trump’s executive orders on visas and refugees faced multiple challenges in US federal courts, but ultimately the Trump administration was able to temporarily implement them while awaiting review by the Supreme Court.
Reuters analysis suggests that in recent months, with President Trump’s executive orders, refugee acceptance from the eleven countries has decreased significantly.
Details of the “additional security screening” for accepting refugees from these eleven countries have not been disclosed.
The “high-risk countries” list was prepared by Barack Obama in 2016 and became the criterion for refusing migrant entry when the Trump administration took office.
Source: Voice of America
