- Tightening Borders: Trump's Latest Move
Countries halted from entering U.S. per Trump's decree
US President Donald Trump has taken a hard stance on immigration, and his latest move is letting no one off the hook. Despite the ever-present controversy, the long-standing "Muslim Ban" reared its head once more, with a twist. Trump has announced a new entry ban, preventing citizens from twelve countries from stepping foot on American soil from June 9th. Seven other countries will be partially restricted.
Seven Suspect Nations
Affected by the entry ban are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Trump touts the entry ban as a necessary measure to safeguard US citizens from foreign terrorists.
Each country is given specific reasons for the entry ban in the decree. For Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, the lack of "competent" central authorities to process passports and verify identification is cited as the reason. Yemen, a location of active US military operations, is also on the list due to its pro-Iranian ruling government. Iran, a country currently in negotiations for a potential nuclear deal with the US, is included as a "state sponsor of terrorism." Most other countries are restricted due to the extraordinary likelihood that these individuals would overstay their visa run in the US.
New Barriers, Familiar Rhetoric
Trump has already signed the order, which also restricts entry from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. The new travel restrictions were announced without warning, coming to light just days after Trump addressed 3000 employees from the balcony of the White House at a ceremonial "summer soirée."
Trump justifies the move, stating that the US doesn't have enough information on these countries' citizens to assess the risk they pose to the United States. Many of these countries were criticized for not taking back deportable citizens. The entry ban was instigated following the brutal attack on Jewish demonstrators in Colorado, resulting in twelve injuries, according to Trump in a video message published on X from the White House.
Round Two
Trump's approach to immigration is as contentious as ever, running into numerous legal impediments, such as the dispute over the deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members based on a centuries-old law. Critics argue that Trump accuses judges of obstructing his agenda for political reasons.
As a result, hundreds of Venezuelans who were deported to El Salvador must now be given the opportunity to challenge their imprisonment in that Central American country retroactively. The US government needs to facilitate the submission of legal appeals, according to US District Judge James Boasberg, ruling on Wednesday. However, the decision does not explicitly order the Trump administration to bring the deported Venezuelans currently being held in a mega-prison in El Salvador back to the USA.
A Controversial History
In his first term, Trump had already issued a controversial travel ban, prohibiting the entry of refugees and citizens from several predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Iraq was later removed from the list. Musk initially implemented the entry ban without warning, causing chaos at airports worldwide and detaining or sending back people with valid residence permits. After protests and legal disputes, the Trump administration revised the rules.
In June 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a final version that also included countries like North Korea. The inclusion of some non-majority Muslim countries helped the Trump administration deflect accusations of religious discrimination. Despite strict guidelines, some people were still allowed to enter the US - like diplomats. Trump's successor, the Democrat Joe Biden, revoked the decree just hours after his inauguration in January 2021.
The latest community policy announcement by President Trump includes restrictions on entries from twelve countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, and Yemen, citing reasons such as lack of competent central authorities or potential threat of terrorism. This policy shift, which also affects politics and general-news, has been met with controversy and legal challenges.
Following the brutal attack on Jewish demonstrators in Colorado, Trump's employment policy has been placed under scrutiny, with the new travel restrictions affecting countries like Venezuela, Libya, and Sudan, due to concerns over the excess likelihood of visas being overstayed. This policy change has resulted in numerous legal impediments and accusations of political manipulation.
