On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump spoke to employees at the Department of Homeland Security, that is responsible for immigration, and signed orders restricting refugee entry and resettlement, as well as visas and immigration, thus implementing his flagship campaign pledge.
"Now is not the time to turn our back on these families, or our core American values, by banning refugees…. The United States should continue to show leadership and share in our global responsibility to provide refuge to the most vulnerable, regardless of religion or nationality," Miles said, as quoted in an official statement.
Miles stressed that the refugee resettlement program is a vital way of saving refugee lives, while the current extensive vetting process makes it safe for the United States.
Refugees hoping to be resettled in the United States undergo interviews, security screening by multiple US agencies and a vetting process by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, prior to being approved.
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly promised to crack down on illegal immigration, enforce border protection and strengthen national security. He also vowed to cease the program allowing resettlement, under which, former US President Barack Obama agreed to accept up to 110,000 refugees into the United States in 2017.
