President Trump directed federal workers Wednesday to start building a border wall and begin punishing so-called sanctuary cities and is considering dramatically limiting the flow of people from other countries, including a ban on Syrian refugees, in a flurry of steps that could fundamentally reshape how the U.S. deals with immigration, security and the war on terrorism.

Trump signed two executive orders designed to begin building the wall, add lockups for detaining immigrants who cross the border illegally, enhance enforcement power for border agents and strip federal funding to cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

“A nation without borders is not a nation,” Trump said in remarks to employees at the Department of Homeland Security. “Beginning today, the United States of America gets back control of its borders.”

Trump said construction would begin as soon as possible and that the U.S. would pay for it, to be eventually reimbursed by Mexico, which has said it will not pay.

"There will be a payment. It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form," Trump said in an interview with ABC News.

He did not detail how he would force Mexico to pay for the wall, though during the campaign he proposed ending remittances sent home by Mexicans in the U.S., which make up a large part of the Mexico’s economy, to pressure it to negotiate.

Trump is mulling a range of additional activity. It includes stopping admission of Syrian refugees and severe restrictions on travel from several majority-Muslim countries. Additionally, he is considering a reversal of President Obama’s efforts to shutter the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the reintroduction of torture techniques and secret overseas prisons designed to strip protections for terrorism suspects.

All of those options fit Trump’s broad campaign promises to crack down on people entering the country illegally, with an emphasis on those who he believes might harm Americans. Trump argued repeatedly during the campaign that the U.S. had become too “politically correct” to effectively defend itself.

Watch: President Trump speaks at the Department of Homeland Security »

Trump administration officials were still deciding on the exact timing for announcing the rest of the new policies.

The batch of actions Trump is contemplating amount to a clear repudiation of Obama’s view, as well as that of many in the international community, that the U.S. abandoned some of its commitment to human rights in the early years of the war on terrorism and doing so helped terrorist groups recruit and win favor. Some of that thinking had begun to take shape in the Bush administration, which initiated the policy of moving detainees out of Guantanamo Bay and often underscored that the fight against terrorism was not religious-based.

Obama pointed to a lack of Sept. 11-style terrorist attacks on U.S. soil during his administration as evidence that his approach worked. Yet Trump won the election in part because many Americans continue to feel vulnerable.

But it all begins with the wall. Trump built his campaign largely on a call for stricter immigration enforcement, his central promise a vow to build the wall on the border with Mexico. Though it evoked cheers from his supporters at campaign rallies, his divisive rhetoric stoked fears among immigrants.

The first order directs the agency to begin building the wall, but it would still require Congress to approve the estimated billions of dollars in funding to construct the 2,000-mile-long barrier. In the meantime, the Homeland Security budget includes about $175 million set aside for upgrading Border Patrol buildings and adding new equipment, which along with other funds could be diverted quickly to start construction.

It also requires that the government tally and publicly detail all aid given to Mexico — highlighting Trump’s pledge to force that country to pay for the wall. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is scheduled to visit the White House next week to discuss trade, another Trump priority.

The memo also includes language allowing federal law enforcement to access federal land for border security, a possible attempt to head off environmental lawsuits that could hold up construction. It would also prioritize border prosecutions and referrals to the Department of Justice.

The second action threatens to withhold funds to punish sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with immigration officials. It includes directions for aggressive interior immigration enforcement and an advocacy office for victims of crimes committed by those in the country illegally. Parents and other relatives of some of those victims joined Trump on Wednesday.

“Nothing can ever make their pain go away, but I want you to know your children will not have lost their lives for no reason,” he told them. “… We will never forget them.”

Beyond his directives on immigration law enforcement, Trump is also looking at new restrictions on refugees and visitors, to follow through on his campaign promise to bar Muslims from entering the country for a period of time. That pledge was one of Trump’s most polarizing, drawing criticism from leaders in his own party, along with Democrats and security experts, but approval from many of his supporters.

One memo he is reviewing would block all refugees from entering the U.S. for 120 days and restrict admissions and some visa applicants for people from countries where the U.S. has counterterrorism concerns, not only Syria but also Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

The draft order temporarily suspends the U.S. refugee program while new vetting procedures are put in place and officials decide whether refugees from some countries should be blocked permanently from admission. This step would likely arouse an international outcry, given the historic role that the U.S. and other industrialized nations have long held in taking in victims of war and oppression.

The U.S. would also stop admitting refugees from Syria indefinitely until a review of security screening is complete. The draft order also instructs the secretaries of State and Defense to come up with a plan to create "safe areas" in Syria and nearby countries where Syrians could wait for resettlement. That could open the U.S. military to deeper engagement in the Middle East.</s>President Trump signed a pair of executive actions Wednesday to begin ramping up immigration enforcement, including a new border wall with Mexico, vowing that construction on his chief campaign pledge would begin in months.

In an appearance at the Department of Homeland Security, Trump kicked off the rollout of a series of directives aimed at clamping down on the estimated 11 million immigrants living illegally in the United States. Aides said more directives could come later this week, including new restrictions on refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.

The presidential directives signed Wednesday aim to create more detention centers, add more federal border control agents and withhold federal funds to cities that do not comply with federal immigration laws, Trump aides said.

“We are going to restore the rule of law in the United States,” Trump said, addressing DHS employees after signing the orders. “Beginning today the United State gets control of its borders.”

The construction of a wall along the southern U.S. border was Trump’s chief campaign promise as he blamed illegal immigration for constricting the U.S. job market for Americans and adding to national security concerns.</s>US President Donald Trump has indicated temporary ban on immigration from Muslim countries deemed a ‘threat to national security’.

He said this on Wednesday while unveiling his actions on border and national security.

Trump also ordered that the erection of wall along the US-Mexico border begin Wednesday.

‘Among many other things, we will build the wall!’

Trump’s directives will mean both Muslims and Christians fleeing Syria to America will no longer be able to.

In total the 6 immediate actions are as follows: Release of funds toward the construction of a wall along the southern border; Target so-called ‘sanctuary’ cities that decline to prosecute undocumented aliens; Institute a four-month freeze on admission of all refugees.

Others are temporarily ban nationals from Muslim-majority countries that are ‘terror prone’; Halt visas to people from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen; Grant exceptions to Christians and other minorities fleeing Muslim persecution.</s>WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) – President Donald Trump is signing two executive orders in keeping with campaign promises to boost border security and crack down on immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

The president signed the two orders Wednesday during a ceremony at the Department of Homeland Security after honoring the department’s newly confirmed secretary, retired Gen. John Kelly.

The executive orders jumpstart construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall, one of his signature campaign promises, and strip funding for so-called sanctuary cities, which don’t arrest or detain immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

Stay With KDKA.com For More Details

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page

 Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter</s>(Fox News) – President Trump signed executive orders Wednesday authorizing the construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall and targeting sanctuary cities, following through on campaign promises that energized his base – and outraged his critics – during the 2016 campaign.

The orders cover a range of immigration enforcement measures. The marquee item is a directive to pursue a southern border wall.

While it’s not yet clear exactly how such a wall might be funded or how much it would cost, Trump reiterated his vow that Mexico “absolutely” will pay for the project eventually, something the Mexican government has denied.

“Ultimately it will come out of what’s happening with Mexico,” Trump told ABC News, adding construction could begin in a matter of months.

Mexico’s contribution aside, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said existing Homeland Security funding could be used for now to get started, and congressional appropriations eventually would be needed.

The same executive order also included provisions to provide DHS with more resources to combat illegal immigration, end what the Trump team calls “catch-and-release” policies, and prioritize the deportation of illegal immigrants who violate other laws.

Another order is aimed at helping federal immigration agents crack down on illegal immigration, by restoring the so-called Secure Communities program, directing the State Department to use its leverage to ensure illegal immigrant criminals are taken back by their country of origin – and moving to strip federal grant money to sanctuary states and cities that “harbor” illegal immigrants.

The latter move is sure to trigger a backlash from the hundreds of jurisdictions that have such policies in place.</s>First, they come for the immigrants, and boy, is Trump taking aim at them today, with the assistance of his nominated Attorney General, Bigot Jefferson Beauregard Sessions.

In orders signed today, Trump is undoing the Obama administration's policy of "catch-and-release," taking aim at so-called "sanctuary cities," while putting the spotlight on the victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.

According to the order concerning border security, The Wall will be built with taxpayer money, which makes this at least half of a broken promise, despite Trump's claims Mexico will pay for it "in a form" at some point.

It reads, "In accordance with existing law, including the Secure Fence Act and IIRIRA, take all appropriate steps to immediately plan, design, and construct a physical wall along the southern border, using appropriate materials and technology to most effectively achieve complete operational control of the southern border."

As for paying for it? Well, there's language for that, too.

The appropriate agencies are ordered to "identify and, to the extent permitted by law, allocate all sources of Federal funds for the planning, designing, and constructing of a physical wall along the southern border"

While Congress gabbles at each other about how they can't afford Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act, the administration will be sending them budget requests to "project and develop long-term funding requirements for the wall."

Taxpayers will also pay for "a comprehensive study of the security of the southern border, to be completed within 180 days of this order, that shall include the current state of southern border security, all geophysical and topographical aspects of the southern border, the availability of Federal and State resources necessary to achieve complete operational control of the southern border, and a strategy to obtain and maintain complete operational control of the southern border."

That's the wall. That same order will perk up investors in private prisons in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas as well, because it authorizes them to gear up and build even more detention facilities as needed.

The order on immigration enforcement is even more draconian.

It provides for the immediate hire of up to 10,000 more immigration officers (jobs!) at taxpayer expense, of course, and in spite of a federal hiring freeze put into effect across the administration.

So-called "sanctuary cities" are a particular target. According to the order, such cities will not be eligible for federal grants as determined by the Attorney General. Think about Jeff Sessions in that light -- who also worked closely with Kris Kobach and Steve Bannon to author this.

Additionally, the order calls for a public report pertaining only to so-called sanctuary cities to publish a weekly list of "criminal actions committed by aliens and any jurisdiction that ignored or otherwise failed to honor any detainers with respect to such aliens."

Sort of a blacklist, you see.

These orders do not address those who were covered under President Obama's DACA order protecting children of immigrants brought to the United States who have become eligible for work permits. But give it time.

In the meantime, protest actions are springing up. There are marches planned for tonight in New York to protest. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman just released this statement with regard to sanctuary cities:

“The President lacks the constitutional authority to cut off funding to states and cities simply because they have lawfully acted to protect immigrant families -- as described in the legal guidance my office issued last week. Local governments seeking to protect their immigrant communities from federal overreach have every right to do so. “Building and maintaining trust between local law enforcement and the communities they bravely serve is vital to ensuring public safety. Any attempt to bully local governments into abandoning policies that have proven to keep our cities safe is not only unconstitutional, but threatens the safety of our citizens. “I urge President Trump to revoke this Executive Order right away. If he does not, I will do everything in my power to fight it.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has also pledged to resist.

Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions has not yet been voted on in committee, nor for confirmation on the Senate floor. Now is your opportunity to contact your Senator and urge them to vote NO on his confirmation, especially given his participation in these loathsome, racist executive orders.

I will update this post with any more news as it's available. But for now, what we know is that Trump plans to retaliate against urban centers that did not support him via bogus immigration actions and voter fraud investigations, at taxpayers' expense.</s>WASHINGTON — President Trump signed a series of immigration-related executive actions Wednesday, including efforts to build a wall on the Mexican border and to clamp down on "sanctuary cities," White House aides said.

Provisions in a pair of executive orders include cutting off federal funding for sanctuary cities that willingly become havens for migrants in the country illegally, as well as expansion of detention space for migrants who have been caught and being shipped back to their home countries, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said.

Related: What is a sanctuary city and what does it mean for Portland?

The signing ceremony will come during Trump's visit to the Department of Homeland Security headquarters in Washington.

Trump previewed the action in a tweet Tuesday night, saying, "Among many other things, we will build the wall!" A senior administration official confirmed the specific actions on condition of anonymity because Trump had not yet signed them.

In an interview with ABC News, Trump claimed that construction of the wall will begin in "in months," and that the United States will soon commence talks with Mexico over his demand that it pay for the structure — a demand the Mexican government has consistently rejected.

"We'll be reimbursed at a later date from whatever transaction we make from Mexico," Trump told ABC in his first television interview as president. "I'm just telling you there will be a payment. It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form."

Trump is scheduled to meet with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Jan. 31.

Wednesday's moves will be the first of what are likely to be many executive actions to roll back President Barack Obama's immigration policies, with more orders expected on refugees and status of people who immigrated to the United States as children.

"His priority is first and foremost focused on people who pose a threat to people in our country, to criminals, frankly," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday. But on childhood arrivals, he said, Trump is "continuing to make sure that his Cabinet level team starts to organize and create a plan to move forward with respect to that issue."</s>U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Armed Services Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to sign several executive orders on Wednesday restricting immigration from Syria and six other Middle Eastern or African countries, according to several congressional aides and immigration experts briefed on the matter.

In addition to Syria, Trump’s orders are expected to temporarily restrict access to the United States for most refugees. Another order will block visas from being issued to Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, said the aides and experts, who asked not to be identified.

Trump’s restrictions on refugees are likely to include a multi-month ban on admissions from all countries until the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security can increase the intensity of the vetting process.

The Republican president was expected to sign the orders at the Washington headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security, whose responsibilities include immigration and border security.

On the campaign trail, Trump initially proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States to protect Americans from jihadist attacks. Many Trump supporters decried Democratic President Barack Obama’s decision to increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted to the United States over fears that those fleeing the country’s civil war would carry out attacks.

Both Trump and his nominee for attorney general, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions, have since said they would focus the restrictions on countries whose emigres could pose a threat rather than placing a ban on people who follow a specific religion.

To block entry from the designated countries, Trump is likely to instruct the U.S. State Department to stop issuing visas to people from those nations, according to sources familiar with the visa process. He could also instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop any current visa holders from those countries from entering the United States.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said on Tuesday that the State and Homeland Security departments would work on the vetting process once Trump’s nominee to head the State Department, Rex Tillerson, is installed.

Other measures may include directing all agencies to finish work on a biometric identification system for non-citizens entering and exiting the United States and a crackdown on immigrants fraudulently receiving government benefits, according to the congressional aides and immigration experts.

To restrict illegal immigration, Trump has promised to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and to deport illegal migrants living inside the United States. None of the orders to be signed Wednesday are expected to focus on those issues.

Trump is also expected to swear in his new secretary of homeland security, retired Marine General John Kelly, on Wednesday.</s>WASHINGTON — plans to sign a series of immigration-related executive actions Wednesday, including efforts to build a wall on the Mexican border and to clamp down on "sanctuary cities," White House aides said.

A pair of executive orders call for cutting off federal funding for those cities that willingly become havens for migrants in the country illegally, as well as expansion of detention space for migrants who have been caught and being shipped back to their home countries, White House spokesman said.

The signing ceremony will come during Trump's visit to the headquarters in Washington.

Trump previewed the action in a tweet Tuesday night, saying, "Among many other things, we will build the wall!" A senior administration official confirmed the specific actions on condition of anonymity because Trump had not yet signed them.

In an interview with ABC News, Trump claimed that construction of the wall will begin in "in months," and that the United States will soon commence talks with Mexico over his demand that it pay for the structure — a demand the Mexican government has consistently rejected.

"We'll be reimbursed at a later date from whatever transaction we make from Mexico," Trump told ABC in his first television interview as president. "I'm just telling you there will be a payment. It will be in a form, perhaps a complicated form."

Trump is scheduled to meet with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Jan. 31.

Wednesday's moves will be the first of what are likely to be many executive actions to roll back 's immigration policies, with more orders expected on refugees and status of people who immigrated to the United States as children.

"His priority is first and foremost focused on people who pose a threat to people in our country, to criminals, frankly," White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Tuesday. But on childhood arrivals, he said, Trump is "continuing to make sure that his Cabinet level team starts to organize and create a plan to move forward with respect to that issue."</s>President Donald Trump will sign executive orders starting Wednesday restricting refugees, visas and immigration, making good on his signature campaign pledges, US media reported.

Trump is due to speak Wednesday to employees at the Department of Homeland Security -- which handles immigration -- and sign orders there on refugees and national security, according to The Washington Post and CNN.

"Big day planned on NATIONAL SECURITY tomorrow. Among many other things, we will build the wall!" Trump tweeted late Tuesday.

Trump launched his presidential campaign with a promise to build a wall along America's long -- and porous -- southern border with Mexico, coupled with a tough immigration stance.

He also called for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" until authorities can better screen those who come into the country.

What remains unclear is how the orders would be implemented by Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, who told his confirmation hearing that the border wall might not "be built anytime soon."

On Thursday, Trump is expected to sign executive orders on immigration and on so-called sanctuary cities, where local officials refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities on such things as handing over illegal immigrants for deportation.

The orders would restrict immigration and access to the United States for refugees and visa holders from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, according to the Post, which noted that citizens from many of these countries already face big obstacles in obtaining US visas.

Immigration experts told the newspaper that the orders would stop all admissions of refugees for 120 days, including those seeking shelter from Syria's brutal civil war, and a 30-day halt to issuing immigrant and non-immigrant visas to people from some countries with Muslim majorities.

The Post cited people familiar with the matter as saying that Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon, his attorney general pick Jeff Sessions and other senior advisers were heavily involved in discussions about the orders.

Trump has also controversially vowed to scrap the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which his predecessor Barack Obama instituted in 2012.

 

 (AFP)
President Trump signs two executive orders related to immigration, one to take federal grant funding away from sanctuary cities, and another to build a wall along the U.S.–Mexico border.