Officials say new immigration order takes Iraq off list
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say President Trump’s new immigration order will remove Iraq from the list of countries whose citizens face a temporary U.S. travel ban.
Four officials say the administration’s decision follows pressure from the Pentagon and State Department. They had urged the White House to reconsider Iraq’s inclusion, given its key role in fighting the Islamic State group.
The new order is designed to replace an earlier Trump order that was blocked by federal courts.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the order before it is signed.
They said six countries — Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — will remain on the travel ban list.
Airport officials and civil rights lawyers around the country have been getting ready for the new travel ban — mindful of the chaos that accompanied his initial executive order but hopeful the forthcoming version will be rolled out in a more orderly way.
An early draft of the new order, which is expected as soon as today, indicated it would target people from the same seven predominantly Muslim countries, but would exempt travelers who already have visas to come to the U.S.
Since last month’s ban, which courts have put on hold, a section of the international arrivals area at Dulles International Airport outside the nation’s capital has been transformed into a virtual law firm, with legal volunteers ready to greet travelers from affected countries and ask if they saw anyone being detained.