Syrian refugees have been banned indefinitely from setting foot in the United States until “important changes” are made.
The President has also stopped the issuance of visas to citizens of 6 Muslim-dominated countries including Libya, Yemen, Iraq and Iran for the next three months.
Mr. Trump has praised the steps saying they are part of a larger effort to keep radical Muslims outside the US.
Rights groups have been quick to react to the executive orders saying that Syrian refugees and terrorism in any part of the world cannot be linked.
Due to the President’s wide-ranging executive orders, all refugee admissions have been halted in the next four months, reports BBC.
The executive orders were signed at the Pentagon after defense secretary Gen James Mattis was sworn in.
Mr. Trump said he is “establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. We only want to admit those into our country who will support our country and love deeply our people.”
He seems to be introducing religion discrimination after he said in a TV interview that Christians would be priority number one when issuing the visas.
Other policies introduced by the signed orders include a review of visa schemes between nations to ensure they are “truly reciprocal” for US citizens; review of the information required from all countries to approve a visa as well as halting services of the Visa Interview Waiver Programme.
The signed document adds that there will be special cases where considerations will be made.
The US President also assigned an executive order that would see the rebuilding of the military. The measures taken will include developing a plan for new ships, new resources, new planes and new tools “for the men and women in uniform.”
The previous administration let in 10,000 Syrian refugees last year under Obama’s watch. However, Mr. Trump repeatedly promised to completely bar Muslims from coming into the US until the country’s representatives are able to understand the whole matter in details.
His latest executive order has been hugely criticized by the Democrats, rights groups and notable figures.
Democratic Senator Kamala Harris noted that the order had been signed on Holocaust Memorial Day. She termed the order a ban on Muslims.
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio weighed in saying that it is saddening for the President to send a direct message of discrimination.
Teenage Nobel Peace Laureate, Malala Yousafzai, who got shot by the Taliban for advocating for women’s education in Pakistan wrote that she is “heartbroken” by the move.