Executive Order: Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States

Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorist Entry

By the authority granted to me as President under the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., and Section 301 of Title 3, United States Code, the following order is issued to safeguard the American people from potential terrorist threats posed by foreign nationals entering the country.

Section 1: Purpose

The visa application process plays a key role in identifying and stopping individuals with ties to terrorism from entering the United States. The significance of thorough visa screening became painfully clear after the September 11, 2001 attacks when existing State Department policies failed to give consular officers the ability to properly assess visa applications from several of the 19 foreign nationals involved in the attack that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. While security measures were updated after 9/11 to improve threat detection, there have still been cases of foreign nationals entering the U.S. on visas and later engaging in terrorist acts.

Since 9/11, multiple foreign-born individuals have been convicted of or linked to terrorism-related crimes in the U.S. This includes those who arrived on visitor, student, or work visas, as well as those who entered through the refugee program. Continued instability in certain regions – whether caused by war, natural disasters, or civil unrest – increases the risk that terrorist groups will attempt to use immigration channels to enter the United States. To mitigate these risks, the U.S. must remain vigilant in the visa approval process, ensuring that those admitted have no connections to terrorist organizations and do not pose a threat to public safety.

To protect its citizens, the U.S. must thoroughly vet those seeking entry and deny access to individuals who hold hostile views toward the country or its founding principles. Those who reject the Constitution, promote violent ideologies over American law, or engage in extremist activities should not be permitted entry. Additionally, individuals involved in acts of discrimination or violence – such as so-called "honor" killings, gender-based violence, or the persecution of religious minorities – must be prevented from entering. The U.S. should also ensure that those who seek to oppress others based on race, gender, or sexual orientation are not granted access.

Section 2: Policy

The United States is committed to shielding its citizens from foreign nationals who may pose security threats. This includes preventing individuals from exploiting immigration laws for harmful intentions and blocking entry to those who could engage in terrorism within the country.

Section 3: Temporary Suspension of Visa Issuance

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, must promptly assess the information required from foreign governments to properly evaluate visa applications and other immigration benefits. This review is intended to verify applicants' identities and ensure they do not present security or public safety risks.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, alongside the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit a report to the President summarizing the findings of the review described in subsection (a). This report must detail the specific information necessary for processing immigration applications and identify countries that do not provide adequate data. A copy of this report must also be forwarded to the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence.

(c) To reduce investigative strain on relevant agencies during this review, enhance foreign national screening, and establish effective security measures to prevent entry by individuals who may pose a threat, the following action is mandated under Section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(f). Effective for 90 days from the issuance of this order, entry into the United States – both for immigrants and nonimmigrants – from countries listed in Section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), is temporarily suspended. This restriction does not apply to foreign nationals holding diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, or G-1 through G-4 visas.

(d) Once the report outlined in subsection (b) regarding required immigration information is received, the Secretary of State must formally notify all foreign governments that fail to meet the necessary data requirements. These governments will be given 60 days to begin providing the requested information.

(e) If the 60-day period expires without compliance, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, must present the President with a list of countries recommended for inclusion in a Presidential proclamation. This proclamation would restrict entry into the United States for foreign nationals from non-compliant countries – excluding those traveling with diplomatic visas, NATO visas, C-2 visas for the United Nations, or G-1 through G-4 visas – until they meet the specified requirements.

(f) Following the submission of the initial list in subsection (e), the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may recommend additional countries for similar entry restrictions at any time.

(g) Despite the suspensions imposed in subsection (c) or the Presidential proclamation referenced in subsection (e), the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security retain the authority to grant visas or other immigration benefits on an individual basis when such approvals serve national interests.

(h) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security must provide the President with a joint report on the progress of implementing this order within 30 days of its issuance. Additional reports will be submitted at 60-day, 90-day, and 120-day intervals to ensure continued monitoring and enforcement of the order’s directives.

Section 4: Implementing Uniform Screening Standards for All Immigration Programs

(a) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation must implement a uniform process within the immigration system to detect individuals attempting to enter the United States under false pretenses, those who pose security threats, or individuals likely to engage in illegal activities after admission. This system will include measures such as in-person interviews, a centralized database to track identity documents and prevent duplication, updated application forms with targeted questions to identify fraudulent claims or security risks, verification steps to confirm the applicant’s identity, an assessment of the applicant’s potential contributions to national interests and society, and a structured process to determine whether the applicant intends to engage in criminal or terrorist activities after being granted entry.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, must submit an initial report to the President within 60 days of this order’s issuance. A second report shall follow within 100 days and a third within 200 days, ensuring continuous evaluation and oversight of the directive’s progress.

Section 5: Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 2017

(a) The Secretary of State shall temporarily suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days. During this time, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence, will assess the USRAP application and vetting process. This review aims to identify necessary improvements to ensure that individuals granted refugee status do not pose security threats to the United States. Any required changes will be implemented. Refugee applicants already in the USRAP process may be admitted after completing the revised screening procedures. After the 120-day suspension, USRAP admissions will resume only for individuals from countries where the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence jointly confirm that the new screening measures adequately protect U.S. security and interests.

(b) Once USRAP admissions restart, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall adjust the program, as permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims based on religious persecution. Special consideration will be given to applicants who are part of a religious minority in their home country. If needed, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall propose legislative recommendations to the President to support this prioritization.

(c) Under the authority of section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I determine that admitting Syrian nationals as refugees is contrary to U.S. interests. Therefore, their entry is suspended until adequate modifications to the USRAP have been made to ensure their admission aligns with national security objectives.

(d) In accordance with section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I determine that allowing more than 50,000 refugees into the United States in fiscal year 2017 is not in the country’s best interest. As a result, refugee admissions will be paused until a decision is made that additional entries serve the national interest.

(e) Despite the temporary suspension in subsection (a), the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may use their discretion to approve refugee admissions on a case-by-case basis if they jointly determine that doing so benefits the national interest. This includes cases where individuals face religious persecution, where the United States must meet obligations under international agreements, or where denying entry would cause significant hardship to individuals already en route. Any such admissions must not compromise national security or public safety.

(f) The Secretary of State shall submit an initial report to the President within 100 days of this order detailing progress on the directive in subsection (b), specifically regarding the prioritization of refugee claims based on religious persecution. A second report shall follow within 200 days.

(g) The executive branch is committed to ensuring that, where permitted by law and feasible, state and local governments have a role in refugee resettlement decisions. To support this, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall review current laws to determine how state and local jurisdictions can be more involved in placement decisions while maintaining legal compliance. A proposal shall be developed to enhance their role in the resettlement process lawfully.

Section 6:  Rescission of Exercise of Authority Relating to the Terrorism Grounds of Inadmissibility

The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall review and consider rescinding prior exercises of authority under section 212 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182, concerning terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility, along with any corresponding implementation memoranda.

Section 7: Accelerated Implementation of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System

(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall fast-track the completion and deployment of a biometric entry-exit tracking system for all travelers entering and leaving the United States, in line with the recommendations from the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the President with regular progress updates on the directive outlined in subsection (a). The first report shall be submitted within 100 days from the date of this order, followed by a second report at 200 days and a third at 365 days. Additional reports shall be submitted every 180 days until the system is fully implemented and operational.

Section 8: Enhancing Visa Interview Security

(a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program to ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1222, which mandates that all applicants for nonimmigrant visas participate in an in-person interview, except in cases where specific statutory exemptions apply.

(b) To the extent permitted by law and within available budget allocations, the Secretary of State shall expand the Consular Fellows Program. This expansion shall include a significant increase in the number of Fellows, an extension or permanent establishment of service terms, and access to language training at the Foreign Service Institute. This measure aims to maintain reasonable nonimmigrant visa interview wait times while ensuring security standards remain uncompromised.

Section 9: Review of Visa Validity and Reciprocity

The Secretary of State shall evaluate all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements to confirm that they align with the principle of equal treatment regarding validity periods, fees, and other related conditions, as outlined in sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(c) and 1351. If a foreign country does not extend reciprocal treatment to U.S. nationals applying for nonimmigrant visas, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee structure, or other relevant conditions to reflect the treatment received by U.S. nationals in that country as feasible.

Section 10: Public Transparency and Data Collection

(a) To provide greater transparency for the American public and strengthen policies that protect national interests, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Attorney General, shall gather and publicly release relevant data in accordance with national security considerations and applicable laws. This information shall be published within 180 days of this order and updated every 180 days thereafter. The data will include:

(i) The number of foreign nationals in the U.S. who have been charged with, convicted of, or deported due to involvement in terrorism-related offenses, ties to terrorist organizations, or other national security threats from the date of this order or the most recent reporting period, whichever applies;

(ii) The number of foreign nationals who were radicalized after entering the U.S. and either engaged in terrorism-related activities or supported terrorist groups in countries that pose security risks to the United States, from the date of this order or the previous reporting period, whichever applies;

(iii) The number and types of gender-based violence incidents, including honor killings, committed by foreign nationals in the U.S. since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever applies;

(iv) Any other information relevant to public safety and national security, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, including the immigration status of foreign nationals charged with serious crimes.

(b) Within one year of this order, the Secretary of State shall provide a report assessing the long-term financial impact of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) at the federal, state, and local levels.

Section 11: General Provisions

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to restrict or interfere with:

(i) The lawful authority assigned to any executive department, agency, or its leadership;

(ii) The duties of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget in relation to budgetary, administrative, or legislative policies.

(b) This order shall be executed in compliance with relevant laws and is subject to the availability of funding.

(c) This order does not create any enforceable legal or equitable right, benefit, or claim against the United States, its agencies, departments, employees, officers, or any other individuals or entities.