Trump's Executive Order on Refugees - Less Drastic than it could have Been

So the bad news is that President Trump is doing exactly what he promised to do in his campaign: cut the US refugee resettlement program. The program will eliminate refugee resettlement from Syria and cut the number of places from 85,000 to 50,000. This is actually not that radical and probably reflects what most Republican candidates for the presidency would have done. It is far better than what many of us were worried about - the total elimination of the resettlement program.

The radical part of Trump's order is actually the manner in which it was done, not the fact itself. Passing an Executive Order that put the resettlement program on hold for 180 days has stranded many refugees who hold valid visas and had already made travel plans. This is an extreme bit of showmanship worthy of Trump. Unfortunately, the refugees whose visas were cancelled will likely have to return to their countries of first asylum.

As IRIN points out, "None of the actions outlined in the executive order are unexpected. Trump alluded to all of them during his presidential campaign. In fact, there were fears he might end refugee resettlement to the United States entirely."

During the Bush administration in the wake of the Iraq invasion, the US Government refused to take Iraqi refugees, citing security concerns. The simple truth is that the resettlement program is entirely voluntary and the US government can cut the program at any time.

There is, however, the question of Trump's use of an Executive Order, bypassing Congress. The targets for refugee admissions are set each year by the State Department and Congress. I"ll let the Constitutional lawyers argue this one.