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Newly appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio wasted no time in enforcing President Donald Trump’s policies concerning refugees and foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. In one of his first official actions, Rubio ordered an immediate halt to all refugee resettlement operations and increased scrutiny of visa applicants from regions deemed dangerous, according to an exclusive report by Fox News on Tuesday.
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Former Florida U.S. Senator Rubio cited recent executive orders passed by Trump as justification for the new policies. Trump signed more than 100 executive orders, including one on [Protecting] the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats and another on Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.
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The first executive order mandates a suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) due to its negative impact on U.S. interests. The second order calls for enhanced vetting of foreign nationals to the maximum degree possible, particularly those from regions or nations with known security risks.
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Fox News also reported that the refugee order specifies that the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security may jointly determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether to admit refugees to the U.S., but only if their entry is deemed to be in the national interest and poses no threat to national security or welfare.
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Rubio was sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of State on Tuesday morning, becoming the first Cabinet member in Trump’s new administration to be confirmed by the Senate.
In his remarks to department staff, Rubio emphasized that there will be changes, but they are not meant to be destructive or punitive. These changes are necessary to ensure we operate as a 21st-century agency, moving at the speed of relevance. The world is changing faster than ever, and we need to adapt. We must anticipate where we’ll be in the next five, seven, or 15 years, as the challenges we face today have no historic precedent.
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Uncontrolled immigration and open borders were central themes in Trump’s campaign. In his inaugural address on Monday, Trump vowed to declare a national emergency at the southern border, halt illegal entry, and begin deporting criminal aliens. He promised to reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, end catch and release, and deploy troops to secure the border.
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Fox News also reported that Rubio’s first international trip as Secretary of State will be to Panama. Although details are still being finalized, the trip is expected to take place next week. This visit follows Trump’s claim that China now controls the Panama Canal, a U.S.-built strategic waterway that Trump said should be reclaimed. According to Trump, the Panama Canal is run by China. Additionally, we handed it to Panama instead of China, and we are reclaiming it.