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Response Center

Real-time analysis of Trump-Vance administration actions, to support legal challenges and provide resources for the pro-democracy community.

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The Trump-Vance Administration is trying to

Require more vetting of all noncitizens and lay the groundwork for future travel bans

Let others know:

https://democracy2025.org/response-center/Zp0lD8

What we know

This order requires the State Department to increase screening of all noncitizens, including those already in the U.S., and to suggest countries that should be banned entirely.

Formal Name

Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats

Status
Underway
Formal Identifier

January 20, 2025

Anticipated Impact

This executive order directs the Secretary of State to begin applying the vetting and screening procedures in place at the end of the first Trump administration "to the maximum degree possible" to all noncitizens applying for a visa or immigration benefit, seeking admission or entry, or who are already here in the United States. Given that millions of noncitizens live here, it is unlikely that the government will actually be screening noncitizens already in the country. Foreign nationals seeking visas and other immigration benefits from abroad should expect more intensive screening almost immediately. This order also directs the Secretary of State, working with the Attorney General, the Department of Homeland Security Secretary, and the Director of National Intelligence, to submit a report to Stephen Miller within 60 days identifying countries to which travel bans should be applied, and how many of those countries' citizens are currently in the U.S. Finally, this order directs the Secretary of State, and those same officials, to take various steps within 30 days including auditing and changing the Foreign Service Manual and other guidance documents discussion of the criminal and security grounds of inadmissibility, ensuring stringent identity verification of refugees and stateless people before admission to the country, and evaluating visa programs to ensure they are not being used by other countries or non-state actors to harm the United States. The order also contains a vague directive to the Secretary of State that seems to indicate that the federal government should deny or revoke visas or benefits from noncitizens whom the government deem hostile to our constitutional rights, or who provide aid or support for foreign terrorists.

By the Numbers

Partner Analysis

People are fighting back

How communities are responding

Democracy 2025 and our partners are ready to counter threats to people's rights, justice, and equality in courtrooms and communities across the country. Learn more about how people and communities are responding to this harmful policy:

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Help us counter unlawful, anti-democratic actions from the Trump-Vance administration and protect people, freedom, and justice.

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