Donald Trump’s executive order banning Muslims immigrants was announced on Friday, but it is still pretty unclear what it does, who it affects, and how it will be implemented.
Here’s what we know so far.
How might Brits be affected?
Information released by both the US and UK governments is still minimal, but those with dual nationality or who were born in certain countries could be stopped from boarding planes to the US.
The UK foreign office’s travel advice page for the United States has been amended.
To qualify for the Visa Waiver Programme, which allows British citizens to visit the US for up to 90 days for tourism and certain types of business visits, the website now says you can’t be a dual citizen of the UK and Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria.
It also says you won’t qualify if you have travelled to Libya, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011.
The US embassy website says that anyone who holds a valid ESTA (an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation is what you apply for under the Visa Waiver Programme) and is a dual citizen of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria will now have their ESTA revoked.
This means they won’t be able to enter the States.
I was pretty excited to join @soumya_boston's lab but denied boarding due to my Iranian nationality. Feeling safer?
— Samira Asgari (@samsam_86) January 28, 2017
These conditions will last until at least April the 21st – 90 days after the order.The website says ESTAs have been automatically revoked for Brits who “have travelled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria on or after March 1, 2011″.There’s no information regarding those who already have approved student or work visas, or those who are solely British citizens but were born in one of the named countries.
What is the UK government doing about it?
After initially refusing to condemn the ban, Theresa May’s office has now said she does “not agree”.
We will protect the rights and freedoms of UK nationals home and abroad. Divisive and wrong to stigmatise because of nationality
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 29, 2017
May has now told Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Amber Rudd to telephone their American counterparts to make representations about the US travel ban. The Foreign Secretary is speaking to the Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner and chief strategist Stephen Bannon to find a way to stop travelling Brits being affected.
What does it mean for the US refugee scheme?
Trump has suspended the US refugee admission scheme for 120 days from Friday.The order says: “I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States”, which according to the New York Times, effectively halves the number the US could accept this year.The order also says that refugees should be prioritised by level of religious persecution as long it’s a minority religion. Considering the countries listed, this means Christian refugees will get priority.
What will happen to Syrian refugees seeking entry to the US?
President Trump's immigration and Syrian refugee ban is indefensible, unworkable and almost certainly unconstitutional.
— James Cleverly MP (@JamesCleverly) January 28, 2017
Trump has banned the entry of Syrian refugees into the US until further notice.“I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry,” Trump’s order said.Justin Trudeau, the Canadian PM has since tweeted: “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith.”
Why are some green card holders worried?
Under the Trump order, it had appeared that an untold number of foreign-born US residents now travelling outside the country could be stuck overseas for at least 90 days even though they held permanent residency “green cards” or other visas, although an official with the Department of Homeland Security denies that is the case.US District Judge Ann Donnelly in New York issued an emergency order Saturday night temporarily barring the US from deporting people from nations subject to the ban, saying travellers who had been detained had a strong argument that their legal rights had been violated.Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union filed a court petition on behalf of people from the seven countries who were detained at airports across the country as the ban took effect.It is unclear how quickly the judge’s order might affect people in detention, or whether it would allow others to resume flying.
