US President Donald Trump has drafted a presidential order to fulfill his campaign promise to block immigration from several predominantly Muslim countries and suspend the United State's refugee intake.
The temporary measures are outlined in a draft order which several US media outlets have published in full, a copy of which by The New York Times.
Under the draft document, the Trump administration would impose a 120-day ban on refugees until officials are able to implement a more selective refugee program, in line with President Trump's campaign promise of 'extreme vetting'.
Religious minorities suffering persecution will be exempted from the ban – and the government would have the power to make other ad hoc exemptions.
The Syrian refugee intake, however, is singled out for indefinite suspension.
Related reading:
Trump signs order to move on Mexico border wall project
The Australian government the move will not affect a refugee deal struck with the Obama administration which would see the US resettle as many as 1,600 refugees from Manus Island and Nauru.
Under the draft order the United States would also cease processing visas for 30 days for citizens from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen – nationalities the Obama administration to travel to the US under America's visa waiver program.
New procedures are expected to subject applicants to increased scrutiny once the pause has ended.
Except for Iran, all of the countries are battling violent internal conflicts.
Iran, while being one of the most stable countries in the region, is accused of supporting terror organisations abroad and has been a key backer of the embattled Assad regime in Syria.
Under the draft order, President Trump would task the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defence with producing a plan to provide safe areas in Syria and surrounding countries in which Syrian refugees can await resettlement or repatriation.
US media reports suggest the document could be finalised and signed as soon as tomorrow.
Border wall ordered
The draft order leaked on a day in which national security was a key focus for the White House, with the president visiting the Department of Homeland Security to sign an executive order to on the Mexican border.
The White House described the project as "a large physical barrier on the southern border."
Trump also signed measures to "create more detention space for illegal immigrants along the southern border" according to White House spokesman Sean Spicer.
"We're going to once again prioritise the prosecution and deportation of illegal immigrants who have also otherwise violated our laws," he added.
Stemming immigration was a central plank of Trump's election campaign. His signature policy prescription was to build a wall across the 3200-kilometre border between the United States and Mexico.
Some of the border is already fenced, but Trump says a wall is needed to stop illegal immigrants entering from Latin America.
In 2014, there were an estimated 5.8 million unauthorised Mexican migrants in the United States, according to Pew, with fewer arriving each year before that.
Experts have voiced doubts about whether a wall would actually stem illegal immigration, or if it is worth the billions it is expected to cost.
But the policy has become a clarion call for the US right and far-right - the core of Trump's support.
Still, any action from the White House would be piecemeal, diverting only existing funds toward the project.
The Republican-controlled Congress would need to supply new money if the wall is to be anywhere near completed, and Trump's party has spent the last decade preaching fiscal prudence.
Furthermore, much of the land needed to build the wall is privately owned, implying lengthy legal proceedings, political blowback, and substantial expropriation payments.
A Morning Consult/Politico poll released Wednesday said 47 per cent of voters support building a wall, with 45 per cent against.
With AFP
