The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday the agency will continue to enforce President Trump’s executive order restricting immigration from seven Middle Eastern countries, despite a federal judge granting an emergency stay on the order Saturday.
“The Department of Homeland Security will continue to enforce all of President Trump’s executive orders in a manner that ensures the safety and security of the American people,” the department said in an early morning statement.
“President Trump’s executive orders remain in place — prohibited travel will remain prohibited, and the U.S. government retains its right to revoke visas at any time if required for national security or public safety,” the statement continued. “President Trump’s executive order affects a minor portion of international travelers, and is a first step towards reestablishing control over America’s borders and national security.”
Defending the policy, the statement said: “Approximately 80 million international travelers enter the United States every year. Yesterday, less than one percent of the more than 325,000 international air travelers who arrive every day were inconvenienced while enhanced security measures were implemented. These individuals went through enhanced security screenings and are being processed for entry to the United States, consistent with our immigration laws and judicial orders.”
The Department of Homeland Security said they “will faithfully execute the immigration laws, and we will treat all of those we encounter humanely and with professionalism.”
“No foreign national in a foreign land, without ties to the United States, has any unfettered right to demand entry into the United States or to demand immigration benefits in the United States,” the department said.
It added: “The Department of Homeland Security will comply with judicial orders; faithfully enforce our immigration laws, and implement President Trump’s executive orders to ensure that those entering the United States do not pose a threat to our country or the American people.”
On Saturday, a federal judge granted an emergency stay on implementation of Trump’s executive order restricting immigration from Middle Eastern countries. The temporary stay impacts travelers with valid visas.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in the eastern district of New York on behalf of two Iraqi nationals detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The stay was granted to in part because Syrian refugees and other migrants authorized to come to the United States would suffer “irreparable harm” if they were returned to their countries of origin while the suspension lasts.
Trump’s executive order, announced Friday, temporarily suspended immigration from “countries of particular concern,” including Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days.
During that period, Trump asked Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and his top intelligence officials to review what kinds of information visa applicants would need to supply in order to ensure proper vetting.
The order also suspended the flow of Syrian refugees into the country indefinitely “until such time as I [President Donald J. Trump] have determined that sufficient changes have been made” to the vetting process.
Sarah Westwood and Joel Gehrke contributed
