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Original Date Announced
February 1, 2018As part of the review mandated in Executive Order 13780, USCIS announces new policies for vetting following-to-join refugees. In particular, the changes include "ensuring that following-to-join refugees receive the full baseline interagency screening and vetting checks that other refugees receive" and "vetting certain nationals or stateless persons against classified databases." [ID #31]
USCIS is Strengthening Screening for Family Members Abroad Seeking to Join Refugees in the United StatesEffective Date
February 1, 2018Subsequent Trump-Era and Court Action(s)
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March 16, 2017
Important information on Executive Order – Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States
On March 16, 2017, DOS issued the following announcement: "On March 15, 2017, the United States District Court in Hawaii issued a ruling barring the Department from implementing Sections 2 and 6 of Executive Order 13780 suspending visa issuance and entry into the United States. On March 16, 2017, a federal district court for the District of Maryland separately issued a ruling barring the Department from implementing Section 2(c) of the same Executive Order. Both are effective immediately. As the Executive Order was not yet in effect, U.S. embassies and consulates continue to process visas for nationals of the six countries as before. The Department will suspend implementation of provisions of the Executive Order as required by the relevant court orders." View Document
Current Status
Fully in EffectOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Final/ActualTrump Administration Action: Change in PracticeSubject Matter: RefugeesAgencies Affected: USCIS ICE CBP Bureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationAssociated or Derivative Policies
Pre Trump-Era Policies
- November 20, 2015 The preexisting process for vetting refugees included multiple rounds of background checks and fingerprinting. The Screening Process for Refugee Entry into the United States
- January 29, 2017 Refugees Entering the U.S. Already Face a Rigorous Vetting Process