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| 'We will build the wall!' Trump expected to sign executive orders restricting immigration | |
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| Donald Trump will sign several executive orders restricting immigration and taking steps on his proposed wall on the Mexican border on Wednesday at the Department of Homeland Security, according to two administration officials and several congressional aides briefed on the matter. | Donald Trump will sign several executive orders restricting immigration and taking steps on his proposed wall on the Mexican border on Wednesday at the Department of Homeland Security, according to two administration officials and several congressional aides briefed on the matter. |
| The president alluded to his expected actions on Twitter on Tuesday night, writing: “Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!” | The president alluded to his expected actions on Twitter on Tuesday night, writing: “Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!” |
| Trump’s orders were expected to involve restricting access to the United States for refugees and some visa holders from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, said the aides and experts, who asked not to be identified. | Trump’s orders were expected to involve restricting access to the United States for refugees and some visa holders from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, said the aides and experts, who asked not to be identified. |
| The restrictions on refugees are likely to include a multi-month ban on admissions from all countries until the state and homeland security departments can make the vetting process more rigorous. The US already has one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world, and it can take up to two years of interviews and background checks for a person to gain admittance. | The restrictions on refugees are likely to include a multi-month ban on admissions from all countries until the state and homeland security departments can make the vetting process more rigorous. The US already has one of the most rigorous vetting processes in the world, and it can take up to two years of interviews and background checks for a person to gain admittance. |
| There is also likely to be an exception in the refugee stoppage for those fleeing religious persecution if their religion is a minority in their country, a person briefed on the proposal said. That exception could cover Christians fleeing Muslim-majority nations. | There is also likely to be an exception in the refugee stoppage for those fleeing religious persecution if their religion is a minority in their country, a person briefed on the proposal said. That exception could cover Christians fleeing Muslim-majority nations. |
| While the specific of Trump’s orders were unclear, two administration officials said Wednesday’s actions would focus in part on the president’s plans to construct a wall along the southern border with Mexico. Trump has insisted that Mexico will pay for the way,, which the Mexican government has repeatedly rejected. | While the specific of Trump’s orders were unclear, two administration officials said Wednesday’s actions would focus in part on the president’s plans to construct a wall along the southern border with Mexico. Trump has insisted that Mexico will pay for the way,, which the Mexican government has repeatedly rejected. |
| Earlier this month, Trump said the building project would initially be paid for by taxpayers, with a congressionally approved spending bill, and Mexico will eventually reimburse the US, though he has not specified how he would guarantee payments. Trump will meet with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto at the White House next week. | Earlier this month, Trump said the building project would initially be paid for by taxpayers, with a congressionally approved spending bill, and Mexico will eventually reimburse the US, though he has not specified how he would guarantee payments. Trump will meet with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto at the White House next week. |
| In claiming authority to build a wall, Trump may rely on a 2006 law that authorized several hundred miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile frontier. That bill led to the construction of about 700 miles of various kinds of fencing designed to block both vehicles and pedestrians. The Secure Fence Act was signed by George W Bush, and the last remnants were completed after Barack Obama took office in 2009. | In claiming authority to build a wall, Trump may rely on a 2006 law that authorized several hundred miles of fencing along the 2,000-mile frontier. That bill led to the construction of about 700 miles of various kinds of fencing designed to block both vehicles and pedestrians. The Secure Fence Act was signed by George W Bush, and the last remnants were completed after Barack Obama took office in 2009. |
| The Trump administration also must adhere to a decades-old border treaty with Mexico that limits where and how structures can be built along the border. The 1970 treaty requires that structures cannot disrupt the flow of the rivers, which define the US-Mexican border along Texas and 24 miles in Arizona, according to The International Boundary and Water Commission, a joint US-Mexican agency that administers the treaty. | The Trump administration also must adhere to a decades-old border treaty with Mexico that limits where and how structures can be built along the border. The 1970 treaty requires that structures cannot disrupt the flow of the rivers, which define the US-Mexican border along Texas and 24 miles in Arizona, according to The International Boundary and Water Commission, a joint US-Mexican agency that administers the treaty. |
| If Trump’s actions would result in those caught being immediately jailed, the administration would have to grapple with how to pay for jail space to detain everyone and what to do with children caught crossing the border with their parents. | If Trump’s actions would result in those caught being immediately jailed, the administration would have to grapple with how to pay for jail space to detain everyone and what to do with children caught crossing the border with their parents. |
| Stephen Legomsky, a former chief counsel at US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration, said the president has the authority to limit refugee admissions and the issuance of visas to specific countries if it is determined to be in the public’s interest. | Stephen Legomsky, a former chief counsel at US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration, said the president has the authority to limit refugee admissions and the issuance of visas to specific countries if it is determined to be in the public’s interest. |
| “From a legal standpoint, it would be exactly within his legal rights,” said Legomsky, who now is a professor at Washington University School of Law in St Louis. “But from a policy standpoint it would be a terrible idea because there is such an urgent humanitarian need right now for refugees.” | “From a legal standpoint, it would be exactly within his legal rights,” said Legomsky, who now is a professor at Washington University School of Law in St Louis. “But from a policy standpoint it would be a terrible idea because there is such an urgent humanitarian need right now for refugees.” |
| On the campaign trail, Trump initially proposed a “complete and total” ban on Muslims entering the United States, which he said would protect Americans from jihadist attacks. Both Trump and his nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, have since said they would focus the restrictions on countries whose migrants could pose a threat rather than placing a ban on people who follow a specific religion. | On the campaign trail, Trump initially proposed a “complete and total” ban on Muslims entering the United States, which he said would protect Americans from jihadist attacks. Both Trump and his nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions, have since said they would focus the restrictions on countries whose migrants could pose a threat rather than placing a ban on people who follow a specific religion. |
| Detractors could launch legal challenges to the moves if all the countries subject to the ban are Muslim-majority nations, said immigration expert Hiroshi Motomura, of the UCLA School of Law. Legal arguments could claim the executive orders discriminate against a particular religion, which would be unconstitutional, he said. | Detractors could launch legal challenges to the moves if all the countries subject to the ban are Muslim-majority nations, said immigration expert Hiroshi Motomura, of the UCLA School of Law. Legal arguments could claim the executive orders discriminate against a particular religion, which would be unconstitutional, he said. |
| “His comments during the campaign and a number of people on his team focused very much on religion as the target,” Motomura said. | “His comments during the campaign and a number of people on his team focused very much on religion as the target,” Motomura said. |
| To block entry from the designated countries, Trump is likely to instruct the state department to stop issuing visas to people from those nations, according to sources familiar with the visa process. He could also instruct Customs and Border Protection to stop any current visa holders from those countries from entering the United States. During the campaign, Trump also floated the idea of a religious registry, a plan that would likely face challenges in the courts. | To block entry from the designated countries, Trump is likely to instruct the state department to stop issuing visas to people from those nations, according to sources familiar with the visa process. He could also instruct Customs and Border Protection to stop any current visa holders from those countries from entering the United States. During the campaign, Trump also floated the idea of a religious registry, a plan that would likely face challenges in the courts. |
| White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that the state and homeland security departments would work on the vetting process once Trump’s nominee to head the state department, Rex Tillerson, is confirmed. | White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that the state and homeland security departments would work on the vetting process once Trump’s nominee to head the state department, Rex Tillerson, is confirmed. |
| Other measures may include directing all agencies to finish work on a biometric identification system for non-citizens entering and exiting the United States and a crackdown on immigrants fraudulently receiving government benefits, according to the congressional aides and immigration experts. | Other measures may include directing all agencies to finish work on a biometric identification system for non-citizens entering and exiting the United States and a crackdown on immigrants fraudulently receiving government benefits, according to the congressional aides and immigration experts. |
| The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. | The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. |