President Trump is expected to sign an executive order banning Muslims from traveling to the U.S. from the Middle East and parts of Africa.
During his campaign Trump promised to take a hardline stance on immigration, particularly deporting criminal refugees and banning immigrants from migrating from the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
Trump’s order will block travel and work visas from being issued to anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. The order will be in effect for four months.
Trump is also expected to sign an executive order on Wednesday or Thursday to initiate construction on the wall at the southern border to block the number of illegal immigrants from walking into the U.S.
Executives Orders gives the president unilateral power to bypass Congress. Congress can overturn an executive order, but the president has the power to veto their overturn. Congress can then override the president’s veto if they can manage to get a two thirds majority of the House and Senate.
Critics are crying foul over Trump’s plans to implement his campaign promises. Particularly troublesome is Trump’s plan to ban refugees from majority Muslim countries.
Stephen Legomsky, former chief counsel at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under former President Obama, said Trump has the authority to limit refugee admissions into the United States and to control the issuance of visas.
“From a legal standpoint, it would be exactly within his legal rights,” said Legomsky. “But from a policy standpoint, it would be terrible idea because there is such an urgent humanitarian need right now for refugees.”
Legomsky is now a professor at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis.
