Overview

• Draft documents reported by the New York Times describe a plan to cut refugee admissions to minimal levels and give preference to English speakers, white South Africans and Europeans who oppose migration.
• One clause would prioritize Europeans said to be targeted for online expression such as opposition to mass migration or support for populist parties like Germany’s AfD.
• The drafts call for canceling hundreds of thousands of pending refugee applications and limiting placements in communities with high immigrant populations to promote assimilation.
• Another provision would require prospective refugees to complete classes on American history, values and respect for cultural norms before approval.
• The ideas have not been formally adopted, critics warn they racialize and politicize admissions, and a prior federal court ruling that blocked a full suspension signals potential legal hurdles.