As the White House confirmed a “horrible deal” between Australia and the US on refugees would remain, US President Donald Trump cast more scepticism.
He said he questioned the purpose of the agreement, and suggested the number of refugees could increase to 2,000, after the Trump administration agreed to honour an Obama-era plan to resettle 1,250 asylum seekers in the US.
“For whatever reason President Obama said that they were going to take probably well over a thousand illegal immigrants who were in prisons and they were going to bring them and take them into this country,” Trump said.
“And I just said why?”
“Why are we doing this?”
Why would America want to take in 1250 to 2000 people who tried to enter Australia illegally? Why does America need more Muslims? From an American perspective, these people are scum.
I understand that in exchange, Australia will take in people who tried to enter America illegally. Why would Australia want them?
HOW THE REFUGEE AGREEMENT UNFOLDED
November 13, 2016: The Turnbull Government unveils the refugee resettlement deal with the United States agreed to under the Obama administration. Australia will take refugees from Central America in exchange for the US resettling people currently on Nauru and Manus Island as part of a one-off agreement.
January 27, 2017: President Trump signs an executive order on immigration, banning citizens from seven majority Muslim countries from entering the United States for 90 days and halting all refugee resettlement for 120 days.
January 29, 2017: White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer says he will honour pledge to resettle 1250 refugees from Nauru and Manus Island during a 25-minute conversation with Mr Turnbull despite his executive order on immigration.
Fe bruary 1, 2017: Media reports the White House has backtracked on a promise to honour the refugee deal with Australia, saying President Trump is still considering whether it will go ahead. Mr Turnbull says he’s confident it will be given the green light.
February 2, 2017: Media reports President Trump reportedly blasted Mr Turnbull during a phone conversation, calling the refugee resettlement agreement the “worst deal ever”. Mr Turnbull doesn’t comment on the conversation, instead saying he is assured the deal will still go ahead.
I don’t want these refugees on my block. Do you want them as neighbors?
Washington Post: “Trump’s blowup with Turnbull shocked Australians, who have stood by America’s side in Iraq and Afghanistan…”
It was moronic for both countries to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistant.
