Former USAID staffers and security experts warn President Donald Trump’s controversial immigration executive action will undermine the U.S. development agency’s ability to carry out crucial work in conflict areas.
“There are really serious ramifications for how USAID and other organizations work on the ground,” said John Norris, executive director of the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative at the Center for American Progress.
The executive order, titled Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry To The United States, imposed a 90-day suspension on those traveling on passports from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. It also suspends all refugee admissions for 120 days. Due to the dangers of working with U.S. agencies, NGOs, military and other institutions, local staffers from a number of countries have long been eligible for special visas and preferential refugee status.
About the author
Abigail Seiff@instupor
Abby Seiff is a reporter focused on human rights, land issues, and politics. She has been covering Southeast and South Asia since 2009, working previously for Devex and freelancing for Time, Newsweek, Al Jazeera, and others. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in anthropology.
