The Trump administration has temporarily halted the arrival of refugees for a period of three weeks because of the coronavirus:
FOX NEWS – The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday the suspension of refugees arriving to the United States for three weeks, in light of the growing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News the stoppage will begin on Thursday, March 19 and continue until Monday, April 6.
“The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program coordinates refugee arrivals with its international humanitarian implementing partners, IOM and UNHCR. The temporary suspension of resettlement travel programs globally will impact the arrival of refugees in the United States and other countries with refugee resettlement programs,” the spokesperson said.
“Due to the temporary suspension, we notified our implementing partners to expect a refugee arrivals pause from March 19 through April 6. We will work with our implementing partners to plan for a resumption of refugee arrivals on or after April 7.”
They added, “Refugees are subject to the same COVID-19 travel restrictions as other travelers to the United States. The Department of State has no higher priority than the welfare and safety of U.S. citizens.”
The refugee program is the last thing I’d want to see shut down for any period of time. I understand it may be necessary, but I just hope it doesn’t leave any refugees in harm’s way for the next few weeks.
In related news the Trump administration is also mulling the suspension of the asylum program which would turn away asylum seekers who’ve crossed the border illegally:
Fox News has learned that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is considering a plan that would turn away asylum seekers and anyone who has crossed the southern border illegally, in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The idea is currently being developed by DHS staff, but there is still more work to do to be done, before it’s presented to President Trump for a final decision.
A DHS spokesperson told Fox News that the president has the authority to do whatever is necessary to protect the American public from this potentially deadly disease.
“President Trump is 100 percent committed to protecting the American people from coronavirus and all options are in the table,” the official said.
Now that’s a program I don’t mind seeing suspended. It’s one thing to be a refugee and need a safe place to live. It’s another thing entirely to cross the border illegally in order to exploit a loophole in our system to obtain asylum.