President Trump’s administration has drafted a plan to pause a program that allows family members join refugees already in the United States until they can undergo increased security checks. The measure is one of several being considered for refugees.

The administration also may expand the use of intensive security checks by multiple federal agencies, called “security advisory opinions” (SAO) to apply to women from countries designated as high-risk by the U.S. government. Currently there are usually only mandatory SAOs, as they are called, for men from those countries.

The administration is also considering expanding the categories of refugees required to be fingerprinted.

A spokesman from the Department of Homeland Security said he could not comment on specific proposals that are still in the review process.

A State Department official also declined to comment while the review is underway and a White House spokeswoman said they have no announcements at this time.


https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-refugees/trump-administration-considers-pausing-u-s-refugee-family-reunification-program-idUSKBN1CP2U4