United States may suspend entry of foreigners from specific countries

However, it has been widely reported that the order would enact a temporary ban on refugees and suspend visas to immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Stephen Legomsky, who was chief counsel at US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Obama administration, said the president had the authority to limit refugee admissions and the issuance of visas to specific countries if the administration determined it was in the public’s interest.

But Rima Shahid, executive director of the Muslim Alliance of IN, says the process is “extreme” IN its current state.

Supporters say the bans mean increased security to the United States, allowing the new administration to beef up what they see as an insufficient vetting process.

Mr Trump was due to speak yesterday to employees at the Department of Homeland Security, which handles immigration, and sign orders there on refugees and national security, according to The Washington Post and CNN.

It’s expected to give officials enough time to execute a more selective refugee program in line with Trump’s promise of “extreme vetting“.

But legal experts have argued over whether Mr Trump’s position could be challenged as a violation of the United States constitution.

He ordered his administration to use the four-month pause in refugees to come up with a plan for stiffer vetting, and said once the program resumes, it will only take refugees from countries where the USA can be assured it is able to vet applicants.

The draft indicated that visas would be suspended to people from Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen and Iran for the next 30 days. “We should also keep our doors open to refugees and those who need help”.

Joining her were leaders of other faith traditions including the Rev. Steve Martin, communications director for the National Council of Christians-one of the largest coalitions of Christian churches in the country.

President Trump signed an executive order Friday that bans Syrian refugees from the USA indefinitely. President George W Bush Bush used that same power in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

GETTYThe President said the United States only wanted migrants who would support the country.

Titled, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States”, the order also bars Syrian refugees from entering the US indefinitely.

The order also directs the Secretary of State to prioritize admission of refugees claiming religion-based persecution “if the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality”.

The US leader ordered officials to start designing and building a physical wall along the southern border earlier in the day.