GETTY Donald Trump could bring back a programme of interrogation for immigrants

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Anyone visiting the country from countries deemed "higher risk" will be interrogated and fingerprinted under the scheme. Under the same programme, some male US non-citizen residents over the age of 16 were required to periodically check in at government offices. The programme was deemed redundant by the department of homeland security in 2011 after claims it was unfairly targeting immigrants from Muslim-majority nations.

GETTY Politicians in the US have said they fear Trump's plans will upset many Muslims in the country

The Republican, who won election victory over Hillary Clinton on November 8, could seek to introduce the controversial measure without seeking congressional approval. Kris Kobach, an adviser to the billionaire tycoon, revealed the Trump team is going to "hit the ground running" with some of his most controsversial policies. The Kansas secretary of state said Mr Trump, who initially called for a "total and complete shut down of Muslims" entering the US, will instead opt for a system of extreme vetting after his shock White House win. The process, he said, would be applied to new arrivals from countries where extremist groups are active. The senior Republican also suggested the US would bring back the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), a policy briefly implemented in the aftermath of 11 September attacks.

GETTY The programme which was implemented after 9/11 but later scrapped to return under Trump

In a wide-ranging interview Mr Kobach also said Mr Trump's immigration team are drafting executive orders that would allow the new White House to secure the rapid construction of his promised wall along the border with Mexico. It is not currently know what role Mr Kobach, one of the most hardline Republican voices on immigration, will take in the Republican's new administration. Since his shock election Mr Trump has vowed to focus on deporting immigrant with criminal records, who he says are "gang members" and "drug dealers". But human rights groups have already said the power could be abused, and immigrants with speeding or parking fines could be considered "law breakers". And Mexico has revealed it is working to establish a helpline providing 24 hour consular services for its citizens living in the US. Mr Trump's hardline immigration policies have been widely criticised over fears they will fracture relations between communities in the US, and sow the seeds for mistrust.

GETTY Donald Trump's transition team is reportedly working hard to hit the ground running with policies