- The United States has lifted the controversial refugees ban on 11 countries believed to be Muslim dominated
- The government however said those seeking to enter the US from those countries would come under much tougher scrutiny than in the past
The United States government under the administration of Donald Trump on Monday, January 29, announced it was lifting the ban on refugees from 11 “high-risk” countries, but said those seeking to enter the US would come under much tougher scrutiny than in the past.
Applicants from the 11 countries which were unnamed but believed to be Muslim-dominated nations and North Korea will now be allowed to enter the US but under a strict immigration scrutiny.
Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen, said: “It’s critically important that we know who is entering the United States.
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“These additional security measures will make it harder for bad actors to exploit our refugee program, and they will ensure we take a more risk-based approach to protecting the homeland."
The countries believed to be on the ban, which has now been lifted are: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Trump recently proposed an end to the 27-year-old “green card lottery” program that aims to diversify the source of immigrants, leading to an upturn in those from Middle Eastern and African countries.
He also proposed to tightly limit the family members who can join immigrants to only spouses and younger children. Until now, such “chain migration” could extend to immigrants’ parents, grandparents, siblings and extended family.
The US government said the policy was necessary to protect national security from terror and crime threats.
Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the United States Supreme Court ruled that Trump’s travel ban can go into full effect, pending legal challenges.
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White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said the White House was not surprised by the Supreme Court's decision.
Trump insisted that the ban was a measure against terrorism, as the policy would ensure national security, pointing to terrorist attacks in Paris, London, Brussels, and Berlin as evidence.
Lower courts in the US have condemned the policy, saying it violated the first amendment of the US constitution covering freedom of religion.
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Source: Naija.ng