UN agencies urge Trump to allow refugees entry

The United Nations refugee agencyand International Organization for Migration (IOM) called on theTrump administration on Saturday to continue offering asylum topeople fleeing war and persecution, saying its resettlementprogramwas vital.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday put a four-month holdon allowing refugees into the United States and temporarilybarred travellers from Syria and six other Muslim-majoritycountries, saying the moves would help protect Americans fromterrorist attacks.

• Trump's sweeping executive order bars all Syrian refugees from entering U.S.

"The needs of refugees and migrants worldwide have neverbeen greater and the U.S. resettlement program is one of themost important in the world," the two Geneva-based agencies saidin a joint statement.

Trump stopped the entry of travellers from Syria and the sixother nations Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen for at least 90 days, saying his administration needed time todevelop more stringent screening processes for refugees,immigrants and visitors.

IOM and UNHCR said that they remained committed to workingwith the U.S. administration towards a shared goal of ensuring"safe and secure resettlement and immigration programs."

"We strongly believe that refugees should receive equaltreatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities forresettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality orrace," they said.

Resettlement places provided by every country for vulnerablerefugees, some of whom require special medical treatment notavailable in their first country of asylum, are vital, theagencies said. More than 30 countries take part in theprogram, which starts with vetting by the UNHCR.

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The agencies hoped "that the US will continue its strongleadership role and long tradition of protecting those who arefleeing conflict and persecution."

Some 25,000 refugees were resettled in the United Statesbetween October and year-end under UNHCR's programfor themost vulnerable, the agency said on Friday.

A host of U.S. federal government agencies are involved andextensive background checks are carried out, UNHCR spokeswomanVannina Maestracci told a briefing.

"I think it's fair to say that refugees coming into theUnited States to be resettled are some of the most vettedindividuals entering the United States," she said.