President Trump surprised a nation, nay, the world when he signed off and immediately implemented a travel ban in January this year, which caused mass confusion among travellers, refugees and migrants from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The imposed order applied to anyone from Iran, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Libya and Sudan, even if they’d been living in the US and just happened to be out of the country when the new executive order was signed.
Americans protested the decision, world tourism leaders urged the President to reconsider and eventually a US District Court Judge managed to block it.
The Trump travel ban was viewed as religious discrimination by the masses, although Trump’s team was adamant it was designed to protect the United States and its citizens.
Now, after almost two months, the travel ban is rearing its way back into politics but this time it’s a little different.
First and foremost, Trump is giving everyone a little time to come to terms with it – instead of implementing it immediately, the new ban will roll out in nine days on 16 March 2017.
The revised executive order bans citizens from six Muslim-majority nations from entering the US, one less than the last.
Iraq has been spared from the three-month block. Why? Because apparently the Iraqi Government has introduced tighter visa screenings and data sharing policies. Also, because it’s working with the US in countering Islamic State militants, ABC News reported.
Those from Iran, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Sudan and Yemen aren’t so lucky, because their citizens travelling to the US won’t be able to do so for a period of 90 days, while refugees, including those from Syria, won’t be allowed in for 120 days.
However, refugees who are already ‘in transit’ and have received approval to enter the United States will be exempt and permitted to enter the country.
Also different is that the thousands of legal permanent residents in the US won’t have to worry about being stopped at an international gate, called off a plane to the US or forbidden from returning to their homes, jobs and lives in the ‘land of opportunity’. They won’t be affected by the new ban.
Despite the changes, the American Civil Liberties Union said the executive order continues to discriminate on the basis of religion.
“We don’t think the ban is necessary for national security.”
American Civil Liberties Union
“But it’s not us saying it. It’s national security experts, and high-ranking diplomats from both Democratic and Republican administrations in the past who have actually taken the time to file affidavits in court.”