The White House on Saturday defended and sought to justify new travel restrictions governing seven predominantly Muslim countries amid reports of people being detained at airports and widespread confusion over who is now barred from entering the U.S.
At a briefing about the executive order signed Friday by President Donald Trump, senior administration officials said the temporary ban is necessary to keep out possible terrorists while the new administration puts in place tougher screening and vetting procedures. The order also bans Syrian refugees from entering the U.S.
According to one official, “there is a serious concern about the degree to which our immigration programs have been abused by those who are not properly admissible.”
“As a general rule, the standard for admission to the United States should not be, ‘Are you obviously right now a self-declared terrorist? No? Then come on in,’ ” the official said.