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Trump's immigration order affects green card holders: US official

Trump's immigration order affects green card holders: US official

By REUTERS

President Donald Trump signs an executive order on extreme vetting during an event at the Pentagon in Washington, on Friday, January 27, 2017. Photo: AP

New restrictions on immigrants and refugees will mean legal permanent residents, also known as green cards holders, from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries will have to be cleared into the United States on a case-by-case basis, a senior US administration official said on Saturday. In a briefing with reporters, officials defended the scope and execution of the new executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, a move that has caused chaos and alarm at airports. Asked about lawsuits filed against the order, the officials declined specific comment, but said foreigners do not have a right to enter into the United States, and dismissed as 'ludicrous' the notion that the move amounted to a 'Muslim ban.' An official said Afghanistan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Oman, Tunisia and Turkey were Muslim-majority countries not included in the order.