How Will the U.S. Protect Against Foreign Terrorists and Safety Threats?

January 21, 2025

Ensuring the safety of American citizens amidst growing global threats remains a priority for the United States. Foreign terrorists and national security threats pose significant challenges that demand robust and comprehensive strategies for prevention and protection. The United States has taken decisive measures to enhance security protocols, aiming to identify potential threats before they materialize and take necessary actions to safeguard the nation.

1. Policy and Objective

In order to safeguard its citizens from individuals who aim to carry out terrorist acts, jeopardize national security, promote hateful ideologies, or misuse immigration laws for harmful purposes, the U.S. adopts a vigilant stance. The country aims to be watchful during the visa-issuance process. This vigilance ensures that foreigners approved for entry do not have intentions to harm Americans. Additionally, it is crucial to identify these individuals before their admission or entry into the United States. This proactive approach is designed to ensure that those admitted do not harbor hostile attitudes towards U.S. citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles.

Furthermore, this policy mandates a comprehensive examination of foreign individuals already present in the United States. It is essential to ensure that these individuals do not advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists or other threats to national security. By doing so, the U.S. can prevent the potential escalation of threats from within its borders. This policy reflects the country’s commitment to maintaining its foundational values and protecting its people from all forms of external and internal threats.

2. Improved Vetting and Screening Across Agencies

The United States government, through coordinated efforts led by the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence, aims to ensure that all resources are identified and utilized to vet and screen foreigners seeking admission. This collaborative effort involves determining necessary information from any country to adjudicate any visa, admission, or other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This determination process is crucial in verifying the identity of individuals seeking entry and assessing them as security or public safety threats.

To ensure consistency, the government re-establishes a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards, similar to those on January 19, 2021. This uniformity is vital for processing visas and immigration benefits. Additionally, particular attention is given to foreigners coming from regions or nations with identified security risks. The objective is to vet and screen these individuals to the maximum degree possible, protecting the nation from potential threats.

Within 60 days of the executive order, the Secretary of State and other key officials must submit a report to the President, identifying countries where vetting and screening information is lacking. This report aims to highlight deficiencies justifying partial or full admission suspension of nationals from these countries. It will also provide details on the number of nationals from these countries who have entered or been admitted into the United States since January 20, 2021, along with relevant information about their activities.

Whenever information supports the exclusion or removal of a foreigner, immediate steps will be taken to exclude or remove them. However, certain exceptions exist. If excluding or removing such an individual would hinder a significant ongoing investigation or prosecution for a serious criminal offense, or if it contradicts national security interests, it may not be pursued.

3. Additional Measures to Safeguard the Nation

To bolster the protection measures, the Secretary of State, in collaboration with key national security figures, evaluates and adjusts all existing regulations, policies, procedures, and provisions of the Foreign Service Manual. This evaluation ensures alignment with the grounds for inadmissibility listed in the INA and aims to maintain the safety and security of the American people and the constitutional republic. Ensuring this alignment is a step towards strengthening the overall security framework.

A significant focus is ensuring rigorous safeguards for refugees or stateless individuals. These groups undergo stringent identification verification before being admitted to the United States. This rigorous process is stricter than that required for other foreigners seeking admission. The objective is to prevent any potential security threats posed by individuals concealed under refugee or stateless statuses.

Moreover, all visa programs are subjected to thorough evaluation to ensure protection against misuse by foreign nation-states or other hostile actors. These evaluations aim to safeguard U.S. security, economic, political, cultural, or other national interests. Recommendations are made for actions necessary to protect Americans against foreign nationals undermining fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and religion, or those who support foreign terrorists.

Ensuring adequate resource allocation is another crucial step. These resources are dedicated to identifying and taking appropriate actions against offenses described in 8 U.S.C. 1451. Additionally, the adequacy of programs designed to ensure the proper assimilation of lawful immigrants into the United States is evaluated. Recommendations for measures promoting a unified American identity and attachment to the country’s Constitution, laws, and founding principles are made. Further actions to protect the American people and the constitutional republic from foreign threats are also recommended to ensure comprehensive and ongoing protection strategies.

4. General Provisions

Ensuring the safety of American citizens against growing global threats remains a significant priority for the United States. The dangers posed by foreign terrorists and national security threats are substantial, necessitating robust and comprehensive strategies for both prevention and protection. To address these challenges, the United States has implemented decisive measures to enhance its security protocols. These efforts focus on identifying potential threats well before they materialize and taking the necessary actions to safeguard the nation. This involves a combination of intelligence gathering, improved technological measures, and increased collaboration with international partners. By continually updating and refining these strategies, the U.S. aims to stay ahead of potential threats, ensuring that American citizens remain safe. This proactive approach underscores the nation’s commitment to maintaining its security in an increasingly complex global environment. The emphasis is not only on immediate defensive actions but also on building resilience and preparedness for any potential future threats.

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