U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a revised executive order limiting travel from six countries.
The travel ban was quickly condemned as unconstitutional, just as the previous one was.
Our U.S. correspondent Priscilla Huff reports:
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U-S President Donald Trump told a joint session of the U.S. Congress what his nightmare is:
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We cannot allow a beachhead of terrorism to form inside America -- we cannot allow our Nation to become a sanctuary for extremists.
That is why my Administration has been working on improved vetting procedures, and we will shortly take new steps to keep our Nation safe -- and to keep out those who would do us harm.
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But unlike the first executive order, which was a signed with a big public flourish
This time U-S President Donald Trump signed the revised version behind closed doors.
Instead, he sent three members of his cabinet to explain why the executive order is necessary.
U-S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson:
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The executive order signed by the President earlier today, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States, is a vital measure for strengthening our national security. It is the President's solemn duty to protect the American people. And with this order, President Trump is exercising his rightful authority to keep our people safe.
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The problem is, the Department of Homeland Security has found,
It's not refugees or recent immigrants to the U.S. who become radicalized and plot terror attacks
It's people who've lived in the U-S for decades - and many were even born here.
The Democrats were quick to condemn this revised travel ban
With House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosic noting
the White House has desperately sought to invent an after-the-fact justification for its baldly prejudiced and unconstitutional Muslim and refugee ban.
U-S Attorney General Jeff Sessions says it is within the President's powers:
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The executive is empowered under the constitution and by Congress to make national security judgements and to enforce our immigration policies. Terrorism is clearly a danger for America and our people.
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Democratic Senators were critical
their leader - Chuck Schumer = said it was a fresh coat of paint
Senator Ben Cardin - the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
said the changes are minor and it's still just as legally objectionable and morally reprehensible as the original.
Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly knows what he's doing for now:
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We do not make the law but are sworn to enforce it. We have no other option. We are going to work closely to enforce it humanely, respectfully and with professionalism but we will enforce the law.
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The revised executive order is set to take effect March 16.
It is not supposed to effect people with legal visas and residency cards
and Iraq has been taken off the list of banned countries.
Groups have already promised to take this executive order to court
saying it clearly violates the constitutional right to freedom of religion.
Priscilla Huff Washington
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