New Order Indefinitely Bars Almost All Travel From Seven Countries
- 7 years ago
New Order Indefinitely Bars Almost All Travel From Seven Countries
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Sunday issued a new order indefinitely banning almost all travel to the United States from seven countries, including
most of the nations covered by his original travel ban, citing threats to national security posed by letting their citizens into the country.
“As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States
and its people,” Mr. Trump said in the proclamation, which White House officials said had the same force as an executive order.
Administration officials said that the new rules would not apply to legal permanent residents of the United States, and
that visitors who currently hold valid visas from the countries listed will not have their visas revoked.
Officials said Somalia did, barely, meet the security standards set by the United States,
but will still be subject to a ban on emigration and heightened scrutiny for travel because it is a safe haven for terrorists.
But administration officials — who have long rejected the characterization of the president’s travel restrictions as a “Muslim ban,” — noted
that the latest effort also applies to non-Muslim countries and was based on a rigorous evaluation of each country’s security capabilities.
Most citizens of Chad, Libya and Yemen will be blocked from emigrating to or visiting the United States because the countries do not have the technical capability to identify
and screen their travelers, and in many cases have terrorist networks in their countries, officials said.
The United States will consider lifting the restrictions on those countries affected only if they meet the new minimum standards, they said.
WASHINGTON — President Trump on Sunday issued a new order indefinitely banning almost all travel to the United States from seven countries, including
most of the nations covered by his original travel ban, citing threats to national security posed by letting their citizens into the country.
“As president, I must act to protect the security and interests of the United States
and its people,” Mr. Trump said in the proclamation, which White House officials said had the same force as an executive order.
Administration officials said that the new rules would not apply to legal permanent residents of the United States, and
that visitors who currently hold valid visas from the countries listed will not have their visas revoked.
Officials said Somalia did, barely, meet the security standards set by the United States,
but will still be subject to a ban on emigration and heightened scrutiny for travel because it is a safe haven for terrorists.
But administration officials — who have long rejected the characterization of the president’s travel restrictions as a “Muslim ban,” — noted
that the latest effort also applies to non-Muslim countries and was based on a rigorous evaluation of each country’s security capabilities.
Most citizens of Chad, Libya and Yemen will be blocked from emigrating to or visiting the United States because the countries do not have the technical capability to identify
and screen their travelers, and in many cases have terrorist networks in their countries, officials said.
The United States will consider lifting the restrictions on those countries affected only if they meet the new minimum standards, they said.