White House does not rule out registering or deporting people from countries that have ‘a propensity to do us harm’
White House press secretary Sean Spicer would not say on Wednesday whether President Trump’s executive order curbing immigration from “terror prone” countries could include measures to deport or register people from those nations who are already inside the United States.
The executive order will reportedly limit access to the country for visa holders and refugees from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Yahoo News asked Spicer whether the order could include “any steps that will affect people from those countries who are already here, including perhaps registering them or beginning deportations.”
Spicer said the White House would reveal “further information” about the executive order later this week. He also pointed to Trump’s campaign trail comment that he would mandate “extreme vetting” for immigrants from “regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism.”
“Look, the president’s talked extensively about extreme vetting … and you’ll see more action this week on keeping America safe. This has been something he talked about in the inaugural address. He talked about it in the campaign. As we get into the implementation of that executive order, we’ll have further details,” Spicer said.
He continued, “But I think the guiding principle for the president is keeping this country safe and allowing people who are from a country that has a propensity to do us harm — to make sure that we take the necessary steps … to make sure that they’re coming to this country for all the right reasons. And I think we’ll have further information on that fact later this week.”
During his presidential campaign, Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the United States. That proposal subsequently evolved into the promise of “extreme vetting.” Trump and top members of his administration have repeatedly not ruled out the possibility they would establish a registry for Muslims residing in the United States.
The executive order blocking immigration from “terror prone” countries is one of several national security directives Trump expects to issue this week. He already signed on Wednesday an order calling for the construction of a wall along the border with Mexico.
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