Trump Signs New Travel Ban Order, Iraq Left Off
US President Donald Trump has signed a revised executive order for a US travel ban, leaving Iraq off the list of targeted countries, after his controversial first attempt was blocked in the courts.
The new order will keep a 90-day ban on travel to the United States by citizens of six Muslimmajority nations — Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Iraq was taken off the list of countries in the original order, issued on January 27, because the Iraqi Government had imposed new vetting procedures, such as heightened visa screening and data sharing, and because of its work with the US in countering Islamic State militants, White House officials said. Thousands of Iraqis have fought alongside US troops for years or worked as translators since the US-led invasion in 2003 — many have resettled in the United States following threats for working with US troops.
A White House official said the new executive order also ensured that tens of thousands of legal permanent residents in the US — or green card holders — from the listed countries would not now be affected by the travel ban. More than two dozen lawsuits were filed in US courts against the original travel ban, and the state of Washington succeeded in having it suspended by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals by arguing that it violated constitutional protections against religious discrimination.
The American Civil Liberties Union said it would attempt to block the latest order in court, arguing that it continued to discriminate on the basis of religion.
“We don’t think the ban is necessary for national security,” said spokesperson Lee Gelernt. “But it’s not us saying it. It’s national security experts, and high-ranking diplomats from both Democratic and Republican administrations in the past who have actually taken the time to file affidavits in court.”
Mr Trump publicly criticised the judges who ruled against the first order and vowed to fight the case in the Supreme Court, but then decided to draw up a new order with changes aimed at making it easier to defend in the courts. Mr Trump’s original order barred travellers from the seven nations from entering for 90 days and all refugees for 120 days.
Refugees from Syria were to be banned indefinitely, but under the new order they are not given separate treatment. Refugees who are “in transit” and already have been approved will also be able to travel to the United States under the new order.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry expressed “deep relief ”.
“The decision is an important step in the right direction, it consolidates the strategic alliance between Baghdad and Washington in many fields, and at their forefront war on terrorism,” the statement said.