Senior U.S. officials said on Monday that the United States will resume its entry of refugees from 11 countries that have been identified as having a high security risk but will conduct an additional review of most of these countries in the Middle East and Africa.
The Department of International Affairs, the Department of Homeland Security and intelligence agencies conducted a 90-day review of refugees from Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The new rule is the latest revision of the U.S. refugee plan by the U.S. President Donald Trump to address national security issues.
Some government actions, including a temporary ban on executive orders by all refugees, have led to lengthy court battles. Refugee advocates said they think the government's move is to reduce the number of refugees, especially refugees from Muslim countries.
According to an analysis of State Department data by Reuters, the refugee enrollment rate dropped sharply from late October to last week's review.
The changes announced Monday include additional screening of certain individuals from 11 countries to regularly review the list of countries identified as having a high security risk.
The new guidelines were announced at a press conference by an unnamed senior executive. They did not provide details about who will be screened in these 11 countries on the grounds of security.
Senior government officials said the list of "high-risk" countries that the Obama administration recently updated in 2015.
US Department of Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen said U.S. officials, aside from terrorism, must also take into account the U.S. risks, such as transnational organized crime.
During the briefing, officials said refugees will not be barred from entering the United States because of their nationality.
In a briefing with a reporter, a senior government official said: "It is important that no refugees in these countries, including 11 high-risk countries, suspend these measures." "We will take new security measures to resume enrollment."
In a speech to the Wilson Center on Monday morning Nelson spoke of new security measures saying they "try to stop terrorists, criminals and fraudsters from using the plan."
"These changes will not only improve safety, but, importantly, they will help us better evaluate legitimate refugees fleeing persecution," she said.
Proponents of refugees said they are worried that the new security measures will deter refugees from the 11 countries from entering the United States.
Amnesty International said in a statement: "Adding more hurdles to the already over-bureaucratic process will create a burden on those seeking security for themselves and their families."
Trump has imposed many restrictions on refugee programs since becoming president of the United States, including less than half of what the former President Barack Obama set in 2017 in fiscal year 2018. He also issued a statement by a top executive that has drafted tougher examination requirements for a thorough review of the suspension of refugee programs and has withdrawn from negotiating a voluntary agreement to address the issue of global migration.
Over the past three years, refugees from 11 countries have accounted for more than 40% of the U.S. enrollments. However, Reuters's review of the State Department data showed that the number of refugees from 11 countries plummeted after the 90-day review came into effect.
According to State Department data, on the day of the 90-day review, which took place on 25 October, 46 refugees from 11 countries were allowed to enter the United States.