Clampdown on refugees, Mexico wall a reality soon

Temporary ban on immigrants coming from some Muslim nations

President Donald Trump will begin rolling out executive actions on immigration, beginning with steps to build his proposed wall along the USMexico border, according to two administration officials. He is also expected to target so-called sanctuary cities and is reviewing proposals that would restrict the flow of refugees to the US.

The President is expected to sign the first actions, including the measure to jumpstart construction of the wall, during a trip to the Department of Homeland Security. Additional actions will be announced out over the next few days, according to an official.

Mr Trump is also expected to order a multimonth ban on allowing refugees into the United States except for religious minorities escaping persecution, until more aggressive vetting is in place, Telegraph reported. The current proposal includes at least a four-month halt on all refugee admissions, as well as temporary ban on people coming from some Muslim majority countries, according to a representative of a public policy organisation that monitors refugee issues.

Another order will block visas being issued to anyone from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, the unnamed aides and experts told Reuters.

On his personal Twitter account on Wednesday, Mr Trump tweeted: “Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!”

Mr Trump campaigned on pledges to tighten US immigration policies, including strengthening border security and stemming the flow of refugees.

Mr Trump is also expected to move forward with plans to curb funding of cities that don’t arrest or detain immigrants living in the US illegally — localities dubbed “sanctuary” cities — which could cost individual jurisdictions millions of dollars.

Mr Trump is set to meet Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto next week.