Trump moves to accept hundreds of refugees from Iran under Obama deal – Washington Times
President Trump is preparing to accept hundreds of refugees from Iran and other terrorist-connected countries, taking them from camps being maintained by Australia under a deal his predecessor struck, without putting them through the long vetting that usually takes place, according to a report being released Monday.
Some of the refugees have tried to cleanse their social media presence to try to delete red flags that could cost them their chance to come to the U.S., the Center for Immigration Studies report concludes.
A staggering 88 percent of the refugees have some level of mental illness or disorder, according to a U.N. health inspection last year. And the centers report documents incidents of rape and sexual assault perpetrated by the refugees on locals.
Australia has been looking for a landing place for the refugees for years, and President Obama agreed to take them. Mr. Trump criticized the dumb deal in February, and shared a testy phone call with Australias prime minister, but has since relented and is moving quickly to welcome the refugees.
Usually processing refugees takes up to 24 months, but analysts said the process for this set is likely to be eight months, with the first due to arrive by late September.
The process is well underway, Nayla Rush, a senior policy analyst at the center, says in the report.
The refugees tried to reach Australia but were instead detoured to camps on Nauru and Manus Island north of Australia. The vast majority are Iranian one of the countries Mr. Trump has specifically singled out as a trouble spot in his extreme vetting policies. Others are from Sudan and Somalia, which are also on the list.
Australia says it has assurances the deal wont be affected by Mr. Trumps executive order attempting to halt refugee admissions and banning entry to most visitors from Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen and Libya.
Some 850 refugees have been identified by the U.N. as candidates for resettlement in the U.S., and American officials are now going through that list and doing their own review.
Homeland Security officials began interviews in May, with decisions on the first group of 70 people expected in weeks.
In exchange for the U.S. taking the refugees off its hands, Australia has committed to taking several dozen Central Americans who are in Costa Rica, hoping to make their way north to the U.S.
Ms. Rush said she can understand Australias thinking, but wondered what the Obama administration saw in the deal and why Mr. Trump, who was initially critical, has now reversed himself.
What is hard to comprehend is President Trumps agreement to move ahead with this deal, she wrote.
She said members of Congress have tried to pry loose more details on the refugee deal, without success.
Read more from the original source:
Trump moves to accept hundreds of refugees from Iran under Obama deal - Washington Times
- US has spent $37.5B on Iran war, Hegseth says at heated Senate hearing - USA Today - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Israel remains on sidelines of US-Iran fight, which for Jerusalem is just fine for now - The Times of Israel - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth grilled over growing cost of war with Iran - NBC News - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Trump Has Only Terrible Choices With Iran - The Atlantic - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Hegseth asks for billions for the Iran war, is there an end game? - NPR - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - KCRA - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Opinion | The U.S. military's escalating strikes in Iran may be legal. That doesnt make them justified. - MS NOW - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - WBAL-TV - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - WYFF - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Trump says will be hitting Iran's Pickaxe Mountain nuclear complex 'pretty soon' - France 24 - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - WESH - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - WDSU - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - KETV - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Pentagon Identifies Another Soldier Killed in Iran War - The New York Times - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Secretary Hegseth testifies on Capitol Hill as Iran conflict costs rise to $37.5 billion - KSBW - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- The Iran wars big oil mystery: No one seems to want it - CNN - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Second critical waterway threatened by Iran war - CNN - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Iran is evading U.S. defenses to kill and wound American soldiers it's not just that "one leaked through" - CBS News - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- July 20, 2026 US completes more strikes against Iran after Trump warning to Tehran - CNN - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Pentagon Withheld Dozens of U.S. Military Injuries in Iran War - The New York Times - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Hegseth is facing questions from senators over funding for the Iran war - Yahoo - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- US launches fresh strikes on Iran, as Trump warns of retaliation for deaths of soldiers - BBC - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- U.S. strikes unlikely to move Iran, intelligence reports say - The Washington Post - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- US military slow to disclose Iran war injuries with officials citing security needs - CNN - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- On sidelines of Iran war, Israel is readying plans in case of escalation - CNN - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Oil Buyers Battered by the Iran War Energy Crisis Race to Build Buffers - The New York Times - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Attacks between US and Iran across Mideast overshadow efforts to keep diplomacy alive - AP News - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- The Pentagon, sinking billions into Iran war, is quickly running short on cash - Yahoo - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- WATCH: Hegseth, Caine defend Trump's funding request to Congress as Iran war reignites - PBS - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- To Base or Not to Base: The Iran War Exposes Flaws of U.S. Bases in the Middle East - Council on Foreign Relations - July 21st, 2026 [July 21st, 2026]
- Mission in Iran war has pivoted toward ensuring oil flow, Trump official says - The Guardian - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - AP News - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US strikes Iran for ninth day; Iran says two oil tankers in Strait of Hormuz exploded and immobilised - Reuters - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Iran Update Special Report, July 19, 2026 - Institute for the Study of War - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- U.S. teeters on return to all-out war with Iran after more troops killed - The Washington Post - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Nigerian children pay the price for the Iran war as malnutrition and poverty surge - PBS - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US strikes Iran for 9th straight night; IRGC launches retaliatory attacks on several Arab countries - The Times of Israel - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- CENTCOM Ends Weekend Wave of Strikes Against Iran - centcom.mil - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- The U.S. strikes Iran after Trump announces a renewed blockade and tolls in Hormuz - NPR - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Trump asks Congress to add Iran to Russia sanctions bill - MS NOW - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- What remains of the Iran deal as fighting rages - AP News - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US launches more airstrikes against Iran after announcing another death of a service member - AP News - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US releases footage of ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran - Al Jazeera - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- The renewed US-Iran conflict is escalating and threatening to spin out of control - CNN - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - The Boston Globe - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - ClickOnDetroit | WDIV Local 4 - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - Click2Houston - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - WAVY.com - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - KSAT - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- U.S. death toll rises again as Iran war escalates over the weekend - CNBC - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US service member killed in northern Iraq as war with Iran drags on - CNN - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Why Jordan Is Becoming a New Focus in the U.S.-Iran War - The New York Times - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Brent oil tops $90 as US, Iran expand strikes in the Middle East - Reuters - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- After two US troops killed, Energy Secretary Wright says 'mission' in Iran will continue - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- 17 US service members have died in the Iran war, reflecting a conflict fought largely in the air - AP News - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Nigerian children pay the price for the Iran war as malnutrition and poverty surge - AP News - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- U.S. Completes 8th Consecutive Night of Strikes Against Iran - centcom.mil - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Markets brace for return to all-out war in Iran amid rising U.S. death toll, while former NATO commander warns Suez Canal could be next - Yahoo... - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states - Yahoo - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- US launches more airstrikes against Iran after announcing another death of a service member - 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS - July 20th, 2026 [July 20th, 2026]
- Iran War Live Updates: Trump Says U.S. is Renewing Ports Blockade and Will Charge Ships 20% Hormuz Fee - The New York Times - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump notifies Congress of new war against Iran - Politico - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trumps Iran Deal Has Collapsed, Leaving the U.S. With Few Good Options - Council on Foreign Relations - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Donald Trumps Needless War with Iran Is His Biggest Economic Blunder - The New Yorker - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- U.S. launches new strikes on Iran and Tehran attacks U.S. allies in the Gulf - NPR - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Iran Update Special Report, July 12, 2026 - Institute for the Study of War - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- U.S. and Iran are locked in a power struggle over the Strait of Hormuz - NBC News - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- CENTCOM Completes Another Wave of Strikes Against Iran - centcom.mil - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Inside the Mossad Plot to Install Israel's Arch-enemy Ahmadinejad as Iran's Leader - Haaretz - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump suggests he has left a standing order to attack Iran if it assassinates him. But Vance would make the call - PBS - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump says he will give primetime speech Thursday amid flare-up with Iran - The Hill - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Despite Trumps wishes, Iran is dragging the US into a long war - The Conversation - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Military action against Iran formally restarted last week, Trump told lawmakers - CBS News - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Opinion | The Irrepressible U.S.-Iran Conflict - WSJ - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump vows to hit Iran hard today and tomorrow, praises relationship with Netanyahu - The Times of Israel - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump Says the US Will Take Out Pickaxe Mountain in Iran - U.S. News & World Report - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump says the US will take out Pickaxe Mountain in Iran - Reuters - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Will Oil Prices Rise as the US-Iran Truce Frays? The Answer Lies With China. - The New York Times - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- US and Iran each assert they control the Strait of Hormuz after another heavy exchange of fire - Yahoo - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]
- Trump says US will blockade Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and charge ships for safe passage - AP News - July 13th, 2026 [July 13th, 2026]