In spite of President Trump's executive order temporarily halting America's refugee program, 872 refugees will still arrive in the U.S. this week. Acting commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency Kevin McAleenan said Tuesday that the U.S. government has granted waivers in cases where refugees "were ready for travel and stopping them would cause 'undue hardship,'" The Associated Press reported.
Reuters noted that refugees "preparing for resettlement typically have severed personal ties and relinquished their possessions, leaving them particularly vulnerable if their plans to depart are suddenly canceled." The 872 refugees to be admitted this week were screened by the Obama administration's process, which lasts an average of two years.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.