New York bomb: Donald Trump calls for 'urgent' immigration reform after Bangladeshi man's 'failed terror attack'

New York: Police look on as people evacuate after the explosion
AFP/Getty Images
Tom Powell12 December 2017

Donald Trump has said the homemade bomb attack in New York highlights the “urgent need” for the US to reform its immigration policy.

The president recently gained the backing of the Supreme Court for his controversial “travel ban” – which plans to restrict entry to people from eight majority-Muslim countries.

And he reiterated his demand for Congress to act further following Monday’s attempted terror attack in a busy underground passageway at around 7am.

Three people, including a police officer, suffered minor injuries after the bomb reportedly exploded prematurely, without fully igniting. The suspect, who has been named as Bangladeshi man Akayed Ullah, 27, was taken to hospital with minor burns.

Akayed Ullah allegedly attempted to detonate a homemade bomb strapped to his body at a New York commuter hub
REUTERS

Mr Trump said: “America must fix its lax immigration system, which allows far too many dangerous, inadequately vetted people to access our country.

“Today’s terror suspect entered our country through extended-family chain migration, which is incompatible with national security.”

He added: “Congress must end chain migration. Congress must also act on my Administration’s other proposals to enhance domestic security, including increasing the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, enhancing the arrest and detention authorities for immigration officers, and ending fraud and abuse in our immigration system.”

Mr Trump also called on those convicted of terror attacks to be given the death penalty.

He previously called for the death penalty for the Uzbekistan immigrant accused of mowing down cyclists in New York, killing eight, in October.

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