Trumprenews restrictions on travel
Eight nations are involved in the new order. Some face a ban, others face targeted restrictions.
WASHINGTON — Citizens of eight countries will facenewrestrictionsonentry to theU.S. under a proclamation signedbyPresidentDonaldTrump on Sunday.
The new rules, which will impact the citizens of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, willgointo effect Oct. 18.
The restrictions range from full travel bans on nationals from countries like Syriatomoretargetedrestrictions. A suspension of nonimmigrant visas to citizens for Venezuela, for instance, applies only to senior government officials and their immediate families.
Theannouncementcomes thesamedayasTrump’stemporary ban on visitors from six Muslim-majority countries is set to expire, 90 days after it went into effect. That ban had barred citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen who lack a “credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States” fromentering theU.S.
“AsPresident, Imust act to protectthesecurityandinterests of the United States and its people,” reads the proclamation. Officials stressed that valid visas would not be revoked as a result of the proclamation. The order also permits, but does not guarantee, case-by-casewaivers.
The restrictions are targeted at countries that Department ofHomeland Security officials say refuse to share information with the U.S. or haven’t taken necessary security precautions.
Unlike Trump’s first travel ban, which sparked chaos at airports in the U.S. and a flurry of legal challenges, officials said they had been working for months on the new rules, in collaboration with various agencies and in conversation with foreign governments.
The restrictions are based on a new baseline developed by DHS that includes factors such as whether countries issue electronic passports with biometric information and share information about travelers’ terror-relatedandcriminal histories. The U.S. then shared those benchmarks with every country in the world and gave them 50 days to comply. The eight countries are those that refused or were unable to comply.
Trumplastweek called for a “tougher” travel ban after a bomb partially exploded on a London subway.
The new policy could complicate the Supreme Court’s review of the order.