US Lifting Its Ban on Refugees from 11 Countries; Those Seeking to Enter US Face Tougher Security

The United States announced yesterday it was lifting its ban on refugees from 11 high-risk countries, but said those seeking to enter the U.S. would come under much tougher scrutiny than in the past, The Globe Post website reports today (January 30, 2018).


Applicants from the 11 countries -- unnamed but understood to include 10 Muslim-majority nations and North Korea -- will face tougher "risk-based" assessments to be accepted.


"It's critically important that we know who is entering the United States," said Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.


Although not identified by the government, the 11 countries are believed to be: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.