Trump signs revised travel ban targeting new visas

US president Donald Trump has signed a revised travel ban which will temporarily halt entry to the US for people from six Muslim-majority nations who are seeking new visas.

Mr Trump’s directive aims to address legal issues with the original order, which caused confusion at American airports, sparked protests around the country and was ultimately blocked by federal courts.

The revised order is narrower and specifies that a 90-day ban on people from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen does not apply to those who already have valid visas, who can travel freely.

The White House also dropped Iraq from the list of targeted countries, following pressure from the Pentagon and state department, which had urged the White House to reconsider given Iraq’s role in fighting Islamic State.

A fact sheet obtained by reporters cites negotiations which resulted in Iraq agreeing to “increase cooperation with the US government on the vetting of its citizens applying for a visa to travel to the United States”.

An Iraqi spokesman said the change marks a “positive step” and shows Washington and Baghdad have a “real partnership”.

The mere existence of the fact sheet signalled that the White House was taking steps to improve the rollout of the reworked directive.

The initial measure was hastily signed at the end of Mr Trump’s first week in office, and the White House was roundly criticised for not providing Cabinet officials and others with information ahead of the signing.

Notably, Mr Trump was not holding a public signing ceremony for the new measure. Instead, several Cabinet secretaries – homeland security secretary John Kelly, secretary of state Rex Tillerson and attorney general Jeff Sessions – planned to discuss the order at an event last night.