It has been an interesting three and a half weeks for everyone following U.S. politics. So far, President Trump has issued twelve presidential memorandums and twelve executive orders. Within just the first seven days of presidency, five of those executive orders issued. The worst three are listed below:
The first executive order is primarily focused on repealing what is popularly known as Obamacare. This executive order tells the Secretary of Health and Human Services and all other related agencies to interpret healthcare laws as loosely as possible so that not all Americans are required to have insurance. The purpose of this was to start the process of replacing Obamacare by transitioning insurances. This can both hurt and help people everywhere. The Obama administration was completely aware that Obamacare wasn't perfect. For some people, it was harder to get healthcare or to expand their businesses. No one knows exactly what Trump’s plans are for his health care laws meant to replace the current ones.
One of Trump’s biggest selling points and campaign promises was to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. In his third executive order, the Secretary of Homeland Security was given the go-ahead to start planning the wall, including finding funding for such a project, installing detention centers along the border, giving state and local law enforcement officers the power to act out duties of immigration officers, and ceasing all “catch and release” programs. This order has caused a lot of skepticism from both sides because Trump had promised that no taxpayer dollars would be used to build this wall, but at this point, the people’s money is the only way this wall may get built. Trump threatened to stop assistance to the Mexican government if they do help to build the wall.
A lot like the third order, Trump's fourth order is trying to minimize foreign aliens, specifically by deporting undocumented ones. This order calls for 10,000 new Immigration and Customs officers. It also takes away funding for sanctuary cities and will keep a list of crimes committed by undocumented aliens. In addition, it will create new Offices for Victims of Crimes Committed by Removable Aliens.
On the subject of removable aliens, President Trump has also established a very heavy vetting process for refugees coming from “terrorist” countries. The heavy vetting process is virtually a ban for refugees to come into the U.S. The ban targets seven specific countries which, according to the Trump administration, have large ties to terrorist regimes. Visa applications with terrorist concerns will also be blocked as a result of this executive order. The Trump administration has tried to make it clear that this is not a Muslim ban, but a ban on terrorist refugees. Contradictory language has made it clear that Trump views many Muslim countries to be terrorist countries, as well. The ban is active for the countries of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. There will be an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees.
