In the Aftermath of New York Explosion, Trump Calls for Immigration Reform

Following the attack on Monday in New York by a Bangladeshi-American citizen named Akayed Ullah, Donald Trump criticized the "negligence" in accepting immigrants into the United States and once again called for reforms. The attacker had strapped a homemade bomb to himself and detonated it during rush hour in New York's subway near Times Square, injuring himself and three others. Security officials stated that this individual, reportedly of Bangladeshi descent, was influenced by the "Islamic State" group, although he did not have direct ties to it. The U.S. President stated on December 20 that the process of accepting immigrants into the country is "careless" and that the current mechanism "allows a large number of dangerous individuals whose backgrounds have not been thoroughly checked to access our country." In a statement released by the White House, Trump said, "The terrible damage that this flawed (immigration) system has left on the security and economy of America has long been evident." He then reiterated his electoral programs and actions from the past year, adding, "I am committed to improving the immigration system to restore priority to our country and our people." The U.S. President stated that his immigration order, which broadly prevents citizens from Iran and several predominantly Muslim countries as well as North Korea from entering, was "a step towards protecting our immigration system." Donald Trump has issued orders three times that prevent the entry of citizens from several countries. His third order was issued in October, which included bans and restrictions on citizens from Iran, Chad, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and Venezuelan officials. The issuance of immigration orders has always faced opposition from some federal courts that temporarily halted their implementation. Ultimately, on December 4, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled for the full implementation of the third order. After the November attack in New York by Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, a citizen of Uzbekistan, Trump also called for an end to the U.S. green card lottery program. Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov had attacked pedestrians and several cyclists in Manhattan, resulting in eight casualties. After Monday's attack, Trump stated that "chain migration" is "incompatible with national security" and must be stopped. According to the U.S. President, Akayed Ullah entered the country through a legal process that allows U.S. citizens to obtain residency for their close relatives.