WASHINGTON
More countries
could be hit with tough travel restrictions to the United States after
the ban on people from six mainly Muslim countries expires from Sunday,
Trump administration officials hinted Friday.
could be hit with tough travel restrictions to the United States after
the ban on people from six mainly Muslim countries expires from Sunday,
Trump administration officials hinted Friday.
White
House and Homeland Security officials said that after a 50-day review,
they had identified a number of countries that could not or were not
willing to meet US standards for identifying potential terror threats.
House and Homeland Security officials said that after a 50-day review,
they had identified a number of countries that could not or were not
willing to meet US standards for identifying potential terror threats.
President
Donald Trump, whose initial measures against the six countries were
blasted as an effective “Muslim ban”, has yet to make a final decision
on which nations will make the new list for much-restricted issuance of
US visas, they said.
Donald Trump, whose initial measures against the six countries were
blasted as an effective “Muslim ban”, has yet to make a final decision
on which nations will make the new list for much-restricted issuance of
US visas, they said.
COMPLIANCE
The officials refused to identify the countries or give a number.
The officials refused to identify the countries or give a number.
But
they said the new presidential order will implement a “spectrum” of
measures that could range from just tougher vetting of applicants — like
demanding access to their cell phones and social media accounts — to a
full, open-ended travel ban.
they said the new presidential order will implement a “spectrum” of
measures that could range from just tougher vetting of applicants — like
demanding access to their cell phones and social media accounts — to a
full, open-ended travel ban.
“Our enemies and our
adversaries are dead set on exploiting our defences to enter our country
and we’ve got to do everything possible to keep nefarious actors out,”
Miles Taylor, counselor to the secretary of homeland security, said.
adversaries are dead set on exploiting our defences to enter our country
and we’ve got to do everything possible to keep nefarious actors out,”
Miles Taylor, counselor to the secretary of homeland security, said.
“The goal here is not to indefinitely block certain nationals from coming to the United States.
“The
goal is to protect Americans until foreign governments do comply with
our standards and no longer pose a risk to the welfare and the security
of the United States.”
goal is to protect Americans until foreign governments do comply with
our standards and no longer pose a risk to the welfare and the security
of the United States.”
MUSLIMS
That
left the way ahead murky for citizens of Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia,
Sudan and Yemen, who have been blocked from obtaining US visas since the
ban began at the end of June.
That
left the way ahead murky for citizens of Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia,
Sudan and Yemen, who have been blocked from obtaining US visas since the
ban began at the end of June.
According to a Wall Street Journal
report, the new list could possibly have eight or nine countries on it,
including some if not all of the six currently affected.
report, the new list could possibly have eight or nine countries on it,
including some if not all of the six currently affected.
The
ban — which initially included Iraq and was accompanied by a 120-day
block on all refugees — sparked a political uproar when Trump announced
it on January 27, a week after becoming president.
ban — which initially included Iraq and was accompanied by a 120-day
block on all refugees — sparked a political uproar when Trump announced
it on January 27, a week after becoming president.
It came after he had repeatedly promised in last year’s election to block Muslims from the United States.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The
ban was frozen by courts after a weekend of chaos at airports and a
barrage of lawsuits by immigration advocates and civil liberties groups.
The
ban was frozen by courts after a weekend of chaos at airports and a
barrage of lawsuits by immigration advocates and civil liberties groups.
The
administration’s stated reason was national security: the need to
ensure the six countries have adequate vetting procedures for
travellers, to prevent terrorists from entering the country.
administration’s stated reason was national security: the need to
ensure the six countries have adequate vetting procedures for
travellers, to prevent terrorists from entering the country.
But critics argued successfully in court that it was unconstitutional because it targeted a single religion.
Five
months of legal wrangling led to a Supreme Court ruling on June 26 that
permitted the government to implement a narrower version of the
original ban, while putting off a full review of its legality until
October 10.
months of legal wrangling led to a Supreme Court ruling on June 26 that
permitted the government to implement a narrower version of the
original ban, while putting off a full review of its legality until
October 10.
BASELINE
In the
meantime, the Department of Homeland Security undertook a 50-day review
of some 17 countries seen as deficient in establishing the identities of
their own people, cooperating on terror threat information, and other
security issues.
In the
meantime, the Department of Homeland Security undertook a 50-day review
of some 17 countries seen as deficient in establishing the identities of
their own people, cooperating on terror threat information, and other
security issues.
“What this is really about is, ‘Can we validate their identity?'” Taylor said.
While
it was rolled out badly and poorly justified, the original ban gave the
government “breathing room” to review global risks and establish a
security baseline by which to measure other countries.
it was rolled out badly and poorly justified, the original ban gave the
government “breathing room” to review global risks and establish a
security baseline by which to measure other countries.
DECISION
During the review, Taylor said, “We were actually able to get some of those who were non-compliant to be compliant.”
During the review, Taylor said, “We were actually able to get some of those who were non-compliant to be compliant.”
Others however “were wilfully non-compliant and unwilling to engage with the United States.”
Raj
Shah, White House deputy press secretary, would not say when Trump
would make a final decision on the replacement to the travel ban.
Shah, White House deputy press secretary, would not say when Trump
would make a final decision on the replacement to the travel ban.
He also c
