Five Things About Trump's 'Refugee Ban' ~ George Thomas

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Thousands of people demonstrated over the weekend in New York and several
other cities against President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily 
barring refugees from several Middle East and North African countries from 
entering the United States.

Titled "Protection of the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United 
States," the executive order makes good on Trump's promise to tighten America's 
borders.

"I am establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of 
the United States of America," Trump said Friday shortly after signing the 
executive order. "We don't want them."

In the flood of internet and social media reaction, some important points are 
being overlooked. Here are five things you need to know about Trump's refugee 
policy that you might have missed:

1.  It's not a permanent 'ban' but a temporary halt on admitting 
refugees: The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is suspended for 120 days.

2.  It does not exclude all Muslims from entering the country: The 
executive order bans all people coming from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia 
and Yemen for 90 days.

3.  There are exceptions: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says 
those refugees who hail from the seven countries of concern but are in possession 
of a U.S. Green Card will be allowed entry. "Lawful 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," said a DHS statement. In addition, the executive order has this 
important exception: "Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may, on a case-
by-case basis, and when in the national interest, issue visas or other immigration 
benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise 
blocked."

4.  It does target Syrians: Citizens of Syria are banned from entering the 
United States indefinitely.

5.  It caps the number of refugees for 2017: Once the U.S. Refugee 
Admissions Program is reinstated, authorities say the number of refugees
allowed in the country for fiscal year 2017 will not exceed 50,000.

Watch this interview with a radical ex-Muslim for her perspective on 

The president's decision.