President Donald Trump has unveiled new restrictions on travel to the United States from eight countries, including North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, while retaining five predominantly-Muslim nations from his earlier hit list: Iran, libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen.
Trump promulgated a new order on Sunday night, when the earlier order expired. The only country he has dropped from the earlier list is Sudan, which is now deemed to meet the US security standards.
“Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet,” Trump tweeted after release of the new proclamation.
As for Iraq that was removed from the banned list in March, the proclamation noted that the country did not meet the US security baseline, but decided against enforcing entry restrictions on it. The Department of Homeland Security, however, has recommended that Iraqi nationals travelling to the US should be subject to additional scrutiny.
The enhanced security measures “establish minimum requirements for international cooperation to support US visa and immigration vetting”, a White House statement said, noting that President Trump’s initiative has for the first time put in place “minimum requirements for international cooperation to support visa and immigration vetting and adjudications for individuals seeking entry to the United States”.
“This is a critical step toward establishing an immigration system that protects Americans’ safety and security in an era of dangerous terrorism and transnational crime,” it said.
“We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country,” Trump noted in his comments, adding: “My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation.”
The White House said the restrictions being imposed on the eight countries under the new proclamation are conditional and may be lifted as they work with the US Government to ensure the safety of Americans.
Individuals with “bona fide” exception from the eight countries — such as a foreign grandparent of a US citizen —can apply for visas until October 18. After that date, the new restrictions on travel will begin.
On expansion of the ban list with the inclusion of North Korea and Venezuela, two countries that came in for sharp attack from Trump in his UN General Assembly address last week, US officials spoke of non-cooperation on the part of their governments.
North Korea “does not cooperate with the US government in any respect and failed to satisfy all information-sharing requirements”, the officials said, but conceded that the US receives very few visitors from that country. Venezuela also “fails to share public safety and terrorism-related information adequately”, the officials said.
Commenting on the new order, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the President was “carrying out his duty to protect the American people”, adding: “The State Department will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement these measures in an orderly manner. We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners who share our commitment to national and global security.”
The American Civil liberties Union said the addition of North Korea and Venezuela “doesn’t obfuscate the real fact that the administration’s order is still a Muslim ban”. “President Trump’s original sin of targeting Muslims cannot be cured by throwing other countries onto his enemies list,” AClU executive director Anthony Romero said.