Even Iran is in the mix: Trump implements travel ban for 12 nations, more on the way
Travel Restriction Imposed by Trump on 12 Nations
President Trump's immigration policies have taken a turn for the provocative yet again, with an entry ban on citizens of 12 countries and additional restrictions for seven more. This controversial move comes after Trump's reelection, and he's making it clear that he means business.
According to a White House document, the ban, effective June 9th, aims to safeguard US citizens from "foreign terrorists." The dreaded list includes Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
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The reasons for such a harsh stance, as detailed in the decree, vary from country to country. In the case of Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen, they lack "competent" central authorities for processing passports and identity verification. Yemen, a playground for ongoing US military operations, receives extra attention. Iran, with whom the US is currently in negotiations regarding a potential nuclear deal, is on the list due to its classification as a state sponsor of terrorism. Most other countries are targeted because there's a high likelihood that their citizens could potentially overstay their visas in the US.
Trump justifies the move by claiming that the US does not have enough information about citizens of these nations to accurately assess their potential risks. He reminds us of the brutal attack on Jewish protesters in Colorado, leaving 12 injured, as evidence of the extreme dangers posed by unscreened foreigners.
A swift response
Trump signed the decree without warning, not long after addressing his staff of about 3000 employees during a ceremonial "summer reception" from the White House balcony. Following the announcement, the White House swiftly unveiled the new restrictions without a hint of preamble.
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Going back a few months, Trump initialized a massive crackdown on migrants during his first term. The Supreme Court gave his administration the green light to deport half a million migrants, with a temporary order permitting revocation of residence permits for around 532,000 people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. These individuals entered and stayed in the US through a Biden-era program.
Trump's hardline stance on immigration is deeply divisive, consistently challenging legal norms. In cases such as the deportation of suspected Venezuelan gang members based on a centuries-old law, Trump accuses judges of acting out of political motives.
Due to all this, hundreds of Venezuelans currently detained in El Salvador's mega-prison will be allowed to challenge their incarceration retroactively, as ordered by a US District Judge James Boasberg. While the decision does not explicitly mandate retracting the deportations, it grants these individuals the opportunity to file legal objections.
Ban 1.0: The controversial Muslim Ban
Reflecting back to Trump's first term from 2017 to 2021, he introduced a controversial travel ban, colloquially known as the "Muslim Ban." This policy prohibited the entry of refugees and citizens from several majority-Muslim countries. The list originally included Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen with Iraq later removed. Trump's travel ban created chaos worldwide, even causing issues for people with valid resident permits.
The initial ban, with no prior warning, sparked protests and legal challenges. However, the Trump administration revisited the rules, releasing a final version in June 2018, approved by the Supreme Court. The final version included North Korea as well, helping to defuse accusations of religious discrimination. Despite the strict guidelines, diplomats and others were still allowed to enter. Trump's successor, Joe Biden, revoked the decree just hours into his presidency in January 2021.
Source: ntv.de, mau/AFP/rts/dpa
- Donald Trump
- Travel Ban
- Immigration Policies
Enrichment Data:The entry ban on citizens from 12 countries, including Iran, by US President Donald Trump centers around national security and public safety concerns. Reasons cited for the ban include inadequate screening and vetting processes, national security concerns, historic exploitation of the US visa system, and recent security incidents. The 12 countries affected by the full ban consist of Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. There are also partial restrictions on seven additional countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
- The US travel ban implemented by President Trump is not just a matter of immigration policy, but also a significant point of politics, especially considering the nations affected include Iran, a current focus of US foreign negotiations over a potential nuclear deal.
- In the context of the ongoing immigration policies under President Trump, it's important to remember that the travel ban includes several nations with high probabilities of visa overstays, as well as countries classified as state sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran and others on the list.
