The Patriot Post® · Trump Temporary Travel Ban Ends

Donald Trump’s temporary ban on refugees came to an end on Tuesday, but with it came a new executive order from the president that enacts “extreme vetting” on individuals seeking to enter the U.S. from 11 nations deemed hostile to America. As a senior official further explained, “There will be a general resumption of refugee admissions under this exec order, while that review is ongoing refugee admissions from the 11 countries will be considered on a case by case basis and poses no threat to the welfare of the United States.”

Recall that Trump’s initial order was aimed at reviewing and strengthening the refugee vetting process that had come under increased criticism during Barack Obama’s time in office. The new vetting process comes with enhanced screening and security protocols, with officials prioritizing cracking down on drug offenders, human traffickers, smugglers and individuals tied to terrorist organizations or activities.

The new vetting measures include the addition of new fraud detection officers who will be deployed overseas to help assist current vetting officials. “It’s not in our interest to bring people into our country with views hostile to the United States,” said a senior administration official. That should be a no-brainer, but it wasn’t under Obama.

In September, Trump dropped the cap for the number of refugees accepted into the U.S. in 2018 down to 45,000 after Obama had dramatically increased the number to 110,000 last year. Prior to 2014, the traditional number of refugees accepted annually was 50,000. However, this year officials do not expect the number of refugees to reach the new ceiling. Times they are a changin’.