WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump vowed on Saturday to mend America’s broken immigration system by introducing a new system of “extreme vetting” for visitors and refugees.

He told reporters on Friday evening that he could rewrite his Jan 27 executive order that bars people from seven Muslim countries from entering the United States, Asked what revisions the White House could make, he said “New security measures. We have very, very strong vetting. I call it extreme vetting and we’re going very strong on security. We are going to have people coming to our country that want to be here for good reason.”

On Saturday, Trump reiterated his desire to further tighten the US immigration and visa system.

“Our legal system is broken! 77% of refugees allowed into US since travel reprieve hail from seven suspect countries, SO DANGEROUS,” said the US president while tweeting a Washington Times story about how a judicial stay on his order has allowed people from banned nations to enter.

The US media reported on Saturday that the new order would restore some aspects of the now-frozen travel ban or replace it with other measures.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would probably wait until Monday or Tuesday to take any action.

Later, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told a news briefing that the administration could still go to the Supreme Court to undo a nationwide suspension of the travel ban.

Last week, a court in Seattle, Washington, issued a stay order that prevented the administration from implementing the ban. And on Thursday a federal appeals court in San Francisco refused to remove the suspension. In his brief talk with the reporters, President Trump complained that the legal wrangling was preventing him from implementing the measures needed to prevent future terrorist attack.

“The unfortunate part is that it takes time statutorily, but we will win that battle. We also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand-new order,” he said.

Trump said that the new order might include “new security measures.” Trump added “in honour of the [appeals court] decision” he will likely wait until next week to respond with any action.

The US media reported that White House and Justice Department officials were already drafting a new immigration orders, making amendments that would make the ban more acceptable, particularly to the judiciary. They were also considering several other options, such as asking the Supreme Court or the full 9th Circuit to intervene immediately. They could also wage a battle in the lower courts, the reports added.

Meanwhile, a judge of the appeals court, which refused to unfreeze the stay, called for a vote to determine whether the entire court should rehear the case. The court asked for briefs from those involved in the case by Thursday.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2017