State Department

Tillerson heads to Asia with North Korea tensions high

By Matthew Lee, Matthew Pennington, Associated Press

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plunges this week into the increasingly volatile situation in North Asia with visits to Japan, South Korea and China, the region's central players for dealing with North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests. Complicating the…

WATCH: State Department says Tillerson will address North Korean missile threat in Asia trip

By News Desk and Associated Press

Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner will lead the Tuesday briefing. Watch live starting around 2 p.m. EST on this page.

You asked: How are refugees referred to live in the U.S.?

By Larisa Epatko

After seeing how refugees are vetted, some readers asked us to go back even further in the process and explain how cases are referred to the U.S. in the first place.

U.S. and Mexico share diplomatic dialogue amid tensions

By PBS News Hour

The two heads of the State and Homeland Security Departments traveled to Mexico for what was originally seen as a fence-mending mission after months of diplomatic turbulence. But with new, tougher U.S. immigration policies taking shape, the visit was what…

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You asked: How are refugees vetted today?

By Larisa Epatko

When President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month suspending the U.S. refugee program in order to implement more “extreme vetting,” PBS NewsHour viewers asked us what the current vetting process is.

Immigration ban reveals a nation divided

By Laura Santhanam

Now halted by a temporary court-ordered stay, President Donald Trump’s executive order banning Syrian refugees and blocking travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations created chaos at airports and left thousands of travelers in limbo. But beyond the immediate headlines, the order…

Justice Department files brief supporting travel ban

By Associated Press

The Justice Department has filed a brief with a federal appeals court in support of President Donald Trump's travel and refugee ban.

State Dept: Fewer than 60,000 visas canceled by Trump order

By Alicia A. Caldwell, Associated Press

Up to 60,000 foreigners from seven majority-Muslim countries had their visas canceled after President Donald Trump's executive order blocked them from traveling to the U.S., the State Department said Friday.

Tillerson: Diplomats must be a team despite personal beliefs

By Josh Lederman, Associated Press

Making his debut as America's global envoy, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sought Thursday to reassure U.S. diplomats who are anxious after a turbulent first two weeks of President Donald Trump's presidency.

Senate confirms Rex Tillerson as secretary of state

By News Desk

Most Senate Democrats opposed Tillerson's nomination, angering Republicans who considered the former Exxon Mobil CEO to be highly qualified for the post.