The Trump administration has started a global review of vetting procedures used to screen foreign travelers that critics believe could result in a "backdoor travel ban," restricting entry to people from more countries.
The White House has said the aim of President Trump's travel ban, which temporarily suspends most travel from six majority-Muslim countries, is to give the government time to conduct a review of procedures used to screen incoming travelers.
The travel ban against those six countries remains blocked by courts, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco last week allowed the administration to move ahead with its review of vetting procedures.
The 70-day review, which began Monday, will examine information provided by all foreign governments about its citizens to ensure the U.S. knows enough about those travelers before allowing them into the country. At the end of the review, Trump may issue a presidential proclamation implementing a wide range of travel restrictions against any country.
Betsy Cooper, a former attorney adviser in the Department of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, said it's critical to conduct occasional reviews of vetting procedures. But she worried this one could lead to a "backdoor travel ban" that could reignite the heated debate over Trump's efforts to limit immigration in the name of national security.
"I think the administration deserves the benefit of the doubt in doing a broad review," said Cooper, now the executive director of the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at the University of California-Berkeley. "But if this turns out to be a way to shut down immigration again, of closing the border again, then you can expect more litigation."
James Norton, a Homeland Security official under President George W. Bush, expressed similar concern. He said the recent terrorist attacks in Europe show how important it is to review vetting procedures, but warned that imposing further restrictions on foreign travel could undermine Trump's national security goals.
"Every day we're seeing attacks. Everyone wants these things to stop. But the best way to do that is to have a broader coalition to defeat these things," said Norton, now a security consultant in Washington, D.C. "The department needs to work with these countries to share intelligence. For the U.S. to impose an isolationist policy can offer up new challenges."
Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said the review is needed to raise the "global security bar" in the face of constantly changing threats.
"This is a step forward for (the Department of Homeland Security) and the administration's efforts to protect the country from persons looking to travel here to do harm," Lapan said.
Our Source
The White House has said the aim of President Trump's travel ban, which temporarily suspends most travel from six majority-Muslim countries, is to give the government time to conduct a review of procedures used to screen incoming travelers.
The travel ban against those six countries remains blocked by courts, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco last week allowed the administration to move ahead with its review of vetting procedures.
The 70-day review, which began Monday, will examine information provided by all foreign governments about its citizens to ensure the U.S. knows enough about those travelers before allowing them into the country. At the end of the review, Trump may issue a presidential proclamation implementing a wide range of travel restrictions against any country.
Betsy Cooper, a former attorney adviser in the Department of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, said it's critical to conduct occasional reviews of vetting procedures. But she worried this one could lead to a "backdoor travel ban" that could reignite the heated debate over Trump's efforts to limit immigration in the name of national security.
"I think the administration deserves the benefit of the doubt in doing a broad review," said Cooper, now the executive director of the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity at the University of California-Berkeley. "But if this turns out to be a way to shut down immigration again, of closing the border again, then you can expect more litigation."
James Norton, a Homeland Security official under President George W. Bush, expressed similar concern. He said the recent terrorist attacks in Europe show how important it is to review vetting procedures, but warned that imposing further restrictions on foreign travel could undermine Trump's national security goals.
"Every day we're seeing attacks. Everyone wants these things to stop. But the best way to do that is to have a broader coalition to defeat these things," said Norton, now a security consultant in Washington, D.C. "The department needs to work with these countries to share intelligence. For the U.S. to impose an isolationist policy can offer up new challenges."
Homeland Security spokesman David Lapan said the review is needed to raise the "global security bar" in the face of constantly changing threats.
"This is a step forward for (the Department of Homeland Security) and the administration's efforts to protect the country from persons looking to travel here to do harm," Lapan said.
Our Source
