Six-nation ban on travel to U.S. takes effect today: feds

THE TRUMP administration on Wednesday set new criteria for visa applicants from six mainly Muslim nations and all refugees that require a “close” family or business tie to the United States.

The move came after the Supreme Court partially restored President Trump’s executive order that was widely criticized as a ban on Muslims.

Visas that have already been approved will not be revoked, but instructions issued by the State Department say that new applicants from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughterin-law or sibling already in the United States to be eligible.

The same requirement, with some exceptions, holds for would-be refugees from all nations that are still awaiting approval for admission to the U.S.

Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-laws and sisters-in-law, fiancees or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships, according to the guidelines.

The rules were issued in a cable sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates late on Wednesday.

The new rules take effect on Thursday, according to the cable, which was obtained by The Associated Press.

On Monday, the Supreme Court partially lifted lower court injunctions against Trump’s executive order that temporarily banned visas for citizens of the six countries. A FORMER Ground Zero worker who faced deportation over a nearly 30-year-old drug conviction was sprung from federal lockup on Wednesday — meaning he’ll get to spend the Fourth of July in America.

Construction worker Carlos Cardona, who developed a respiratory illness from working at the World Trade Center site in the weeks after the 9/11 attacks, won a stay after the Daily News highlighted his plight and Gov. Cuomo gave him a pardon.

Cardona had been detained in Hudson County, N.J., since February, shortly after President Trump took office with a promise to crack down on illegal immigration.

“I’m so happy and relieved to be home,” Cardona, 48, told The News. “I spent four months in the detention center. Being incarcerated is not easy. They were very difficult months knowing you don’t have your freedom. It’s depressing.”

Cardona said he could hardly believe his ears when officials told him he was getting out.

“I couldn’t believe it when they came this morning,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if they were letting me go or if they were going to deport me. They took me to their offices on Varick St. and I signed some (documents). They told me I could go. I couldn’t believe it.”

Cardona called his wife, Liliana, who had faithfully visited every week since the undocumented immigrant from Colombia was taken into custody.

“My family arrived in a car to get me. It was such a happy moment,” Cardona said. “I was overjoyed. I had been waiting for this moment for a while, months already. I’m very lucky, one of the lucky ones. I feel very privileged to be able to come back home to my family.”

Cardona said his first order of business will be to begin his application for permanent residence — after he gets some much needed sleep.

“It was kind of hard to get any rest there,” Cardona said.

Cardona added that he was grateful to everyone who helped him get back to his family in Queens. He still has to periodically check in with immigration