UPDATE: President Trump Issues Additional Executive Order Impacting Immigration

On the heels of the January 25, 2017 Executive Orders regarding Border Security and Public Safety in the Interior of the U.S., President Trump has signed the Executive Order, Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals. As with the actions taken earlier this week, this new Executive Order will impact immigration processes. Targeting the visa-issuance process, President Trump scrutinized current guidelines related to consular officers' review of visa applications, the admission of refugees, and foreign nationals' support of the U.S. Constitution and American law. President Trump has implemented the new Executive Order with the stated purpose of abating terrorist acts and dangerous conduct by foreign nationals once they have entered the U.S.

Initiatives to Protect Against Terrorist Attacks and Malevolent Behavior

This Executive Order implements the following:

Suspension of Issuance of Visas and Other Immigration Benefits to Nationals of Countries of Particular Concern.

Immediately suspends for 90 days the admission to the U.S. of foreign nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, and C-2 visa for travel to the United Nations). Directs the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State and Director of National Intelligence to conduct a review of information needed from other countries for adjudication of a visa, admission to the U.S., or other immigration benefit, and submit a report to the President for further review and determination of how to manage visa applications. If any country does not respond to the requests of the Secretary of Homeland Security within a specified period, the President will include the country in a Presidential proclamation that would prohibit the entry of foreign nationals from the uncooperative country, with the exception of foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, and C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations. The Secretary of Homeland Security may recommend to the President the names of any additional countries that should be subject to similar treatment. On a case-by-case basis and when in the national interest, authorizes the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas are otherwise blocked. Visa Interview Security

Immediate...