washington u.s. department homeland security temporarily halt trip staff interview refugees abroad prepare likely shakeup refugee policy president donald trump two source knowledge decision say thursday decision effectively amount pause future refugee admissions give interview crucial step often years-long process dhs leadership decision halt interview trip communicate involve u.s. refugee admission process wednesday one source say mean though trump yet order temporary halt refugee program future admissions likely delay trump expect sign executive order would include temporary ban refugees suspension visa citizens syria six middle eastern african countries white house spokesman sean spic tell reporters thursday trump could sign several executive order friday nature decide yet becca heller director international refugee assistance project new york-based urban justice center say inform decision halt overseas interview several people outside government gillian christensen spokeswoman u.s. citizenship immigration service part department homeland security conduct interview say agency delay number upcoming trip officially cancel dhs officer regularly visit countries jordan malaysia el salvador kenya ethiopia interview refugees seek enter unite state usually one last step refugee resettlement process heller say decision halt overseas interview would cause delay refugee process even trump decide maintain refugee program re-start temporary closure past freeze refugee program re-examine security issue really important continue process even admit people process time program two three years heller say election campaign trump decry former president barack obama decision increase number syrian refugees admit unite state fear flee country civil war would carry attack obama approve allow 110,000 refugees 2017 fiscal year compare 85,000 prior year trump say election campaign proper system vet refugees addition interview refugees hop resettle unite state undergo extensive security screen multiple u.s. agencies well vet unite nations high commissioner refugees exclusive expect trump action u.s. suspend refugee resettlement interview