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Myth vs. Fact: Explaining President Trump's Executive Order


Below is a myth vs. fact sheet compiled by Congressman Huizenga's office to help constituents across West Michigan understand President Trump's Executive Order regarding immigration, 

Myth: The Executive Order (EO) is a Muslim ban.

Fact: The 7 countries included in the temporary suspension of the Visa Waiver Program were designated by Congress and the Obama Administration as posing national security risks in the Visa Waiver Program. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 was passed by both chambers of Congress and then signed into law by President Obama on 12/18/15.

Myth: The President's EO terminates the Refugee Admissions Program.

Fact: The Refugee Admissions Program will be temporarily suspended for the next 120 days while the Department of Homeland Security and interagency partners review screening procedures to ensure refugees admitted in the future do not pose a security risk to citizens of the United States.

Myth: President Trump's EO impacts legal permanent residents.

Fact: Legal permanent residents of the United States traveling on a valid I-551 will be allowed to board U.S. bound aircraft and will be assessed for exceptions at arrival ports of entry, as appropriate. The entry of these individuals, while subject to national security checks, is in the national interest. Therefore, we expect swift entry for legal permanent residents.

Myth: The President's EO permanently ends the visa waiver program for 7 nations.

Fact: For the next 90 days, nearly all travelers, except U.S. citizens, traveling from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen will be temporarily suspended from entry to the United States. The 90 day period will allow for proper review and establishment of standards to prevent terrorist or criminal infiltration by foreign nationals.

Myth: The United States is not a welcoming nation.

Fact: After this review is complete, the U.S. will still welcome 50,000 refugees into the United States in 2017. This is consistent with the average rate of admissions over the 15 years prior to President Obama’s dramatic expansion in 2016.

President Obama Executive Order's
  • The Obama administration conducted a review in 2011 of the vetting procedures applied to citizens of a single country (Iraq) and then only to refugees and applicants for Special Immigrant Visas, created by Congress to help Iraqis (and later Afghans) who supported the United States in those conflicts. 
  • December 2015: President Obama signed into law a measure placing limited restrictions on certain travelers who had visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011. (Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015).
  • The Obama Administration terminated a 22-year-old policy that has allowed Cubans who arrived on United States soil without visas to remain in the country and gain legal residency, an unexpected move long sought by the Cuban government. EXAMPLE: Cubans at border crossings were denied entry into the U.S. - Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart
  • DHS Fact Sheet: The executive order signed on January 27, 2017, allows for the proper review and establishment of standards to prevent terrorist or criminal infiltration by foreign nationals. The United States has the world’s most generous immigration system, yet it has been repeatedly exploited by terrorists and other malicious actors who seek to do us harm. 



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