Immigrant Groups React After Trump Issues National Security Order

Trump issued the order to protect the United States from foreign terrorists and other national security and public safety threats.

“The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those aliens approved for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans or our national interests,” the order states.

The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is among the groups that believe the order is paving the way to reinstate the 2017 Travel Ban more stringently.

Eight years ago, Trump’s travel ban restricted entry into the United States by foreign nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

In response to this week’s order, the NIAC hosted a press conference on X on Jan. 21 analyzing the impact and advising how to resist it.

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“This is more than just a Muslim ban or the travel ban, this executive order is two or three executive orders rolled into one,” NIAC President Jamal Abdi said during the virtual meeting.

“It could be the start of building a registry of foreign nationals here in the United States.”

The NAIC critisized the wording of the order, which references aliens and foreign nationals in the country who have a hostile attitude toward the United States.

“It seems to be language targeting students and those who were at the encampments,” Abdi said. “This seems to be another way to go after those in our community who have been speaking up on the Palestinian issue.”

Pro-Palestinian students demanded disclosure and divestment from Israel following the Jewish state’s response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.

At most universities, student demonstrators didn’t act alone. For example, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) is both a Columbia University and national network called National Students for Justice in Palestine. They did not reply to requests for comment.

“The best thing we could do for ourselves at this moment is don’t get into any trouble,” American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee National Executive Director Abed A. Ayoub said during the Jan. 21 virtual meeting.

“Now is not the time to mess around. Just let’s wait until things fall in place so we have a clear idea of how those who are currently here in the United States get impacted by this.”

NAIC Policy Director Ryan Costello advised students to have a “little story” in their heads about how they are a benefit to the United States.

“It is time to prepare for this type of scrutiny,” Costello said. “It’s also time to lock down your social media.”

The White House communications team did not respond to requests for comment by publication time.

The president’s order empowers the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take immediate steps to exclude or remove individuals depending on information obtained.

Trump nominated South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the DHS, who has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

“Whenever you have the word removal, that’s beyond just having the visa denied,” Abdi said. “Removal is going after people who are here in the United States.”

The State Department and DHS are expected to deliver to Trump, within 60 days, a report identifying countries that warrant a partial or full suspension based on the quality of their vetting and screening process.

Yasmine Taeb, a Democratic National Committee official and Center for Victims of Torture senior policy counsel, expressed concern that the order will apply retroactively to those who secured a visa over the past four years.

“The No Muslim Ban Ever Coalition, the campaign that my organization co-chairs, we’re going to be having a series of organizing calls, calls to action and know-your-rights webinars and pamphlets for the community to ensure that everyone’s prepared in how to effectively respond,” Taeb said.

The NAIC said that a broad application of the order could impact more than 40,000 Iranians who have obtained visas since 2021.

Currently, there is no ban on granting visas to Iranians, but Trump’s order requests a count.

“We should probably work on coordinating a communication strategy in effectively responding to some of these threats,” Taeb said.

“What we should be prepared in doing very quickly and effectively is getting stories out as soon as possible about families who we know are being impacted.”

Although Trump has not reinstated his previous travel ban, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)–New Jersey fears the executive order will pave the way to upend birthright citizenship for some and silence critics of the Israeli government.

“The new order goes a step further than the 2017 Muslim Ban by adding language that appears to promote ideological exclusion by allowing the government to deny visas or entry based on perceived political opinions, religious beliefs, or cultural backgrounds,” CAIR-NJ communications manager Aya Elamroussi told The Epoch Times.