Report: Trump Expected to Announce Ban on Refugees, New Immigration Policies

We certainly hope so.

1.25.2017

President Donald Trump is expected to sign new executive orders on Wednesday including those related to national security. Many expect that the administration's plans concerning the Syrian refugees and immigration from several Islamic-majority countries will also be unveiled.

Trump will announce the specifics of his plan later on Wednesday, but for now most have speculated that the executive orders will include his promised temporary ban on refugees and a suspension of visas for citizens of Syria and at least six other Middle Eastern and African countries, according to congressional aides. Reuters expands on the subject:

Another order will block visas being issued to anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, said the aides and experts, who asked not to be identified.

In his tweet late on Tuesday, Trump said: "Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!"

The border security measures probably include directing the construction of a border wall with Mexico and other actions to cut the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States.

The sources say the first of the orders will be signed on Wednesday. With Trump considering measures to tighten border security, he could turn his attention to the refugee issue later this week.

Stephen Legomsky, who was chief counsel at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration, said the president had the authority to limit refugee admissions and the issuance of visas to specific countries if the administration determined it was in the public’s interest.

"From a legal standpoint, it would be exactly within his legal rights," said Legomsky, a professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis. "But from a policy standpoint, it would be terrible idea because there is such an urgent humanitarian need right now for refugees.”

Wait. What was that you said, Legomsky? That limiting refugee admissions and visas is "exactly within [Trump's] legal rights"? Right. We thought so.

Trump has long vowed to implement measures, such as refusing refugees asylum, as a means of safeguarding the nation against potential terrorist attacks. Trump, along with Senator Jeff Sessions, decided to focus the immigration restrictions on specific countries, rather than issue a religion litmus test. Of course anyone with eyes to see knows that the countries with citizens who pose the greatest risk are in fact Islamic ones, and that Islam is the ethos guiding those very citizens. But these are the politically correct waters our current administration must navigate.

Practically speaking, the State Department would likely cease issuing visas, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection can prevent any current visa holders from countries on the restricted list from entering the U.S.

It is worth noting that immigration is a privilege, not a right, and government's first and foremost responsibility is to protect its own citizens. And while Trump may choose to traverse politically correct waters, there is also nothing in our Constitution that bars implementing a "religious test" when it comes to those seeking immigration.