Trump Issues a New Indefinite Travel Ban on both Previously Designated and New Countries
On Sunday, September 24th, Trump issued his third and most severe travel ban, this time calling for an indefinite ban on entry into the United States of foreign nationals from designated countries. Rather than a 90-day ban, like the previous versions, Trump has put an indefinite ban in place again on foreign nationals from countries that purportedly do not meet U.S. standards for vetting travelers. The nations from the original ban are included in this new proclamation and are affected in the following ways:
- Iran: Suspends the entry of immigrants and all nonimmigrants, except F (student), M (vocational student) and J (exchange visitor) visas, though they are subject to enhanced screening.
- Libya: Suspends the entry of immigrants and temporary visitors on business or tourist visas (B-1/B-2).
- Somalia: Suspends the entry of immigrants, and requires enhanced screening of all nonimmigrants.
- Syria: Suspends the entry of all immigrants and nonimmigrants.
- Yemen: Suspends the entry of immigrants and temporary visitors on business or tourist visas (B-1/B-2).
- Iraq: Requires enhanced screening of all individuals seeking to enter the United States.
A notable exception is that Nationals of Sudan, who were impacted by earlier versions of the travel ban, are not included in the proclamation. Nonetheless, the new ban has added additional countries to the list. These countries are affected in the following ways:
- Chad: Suspends the entry of immigrants and temporary visitors on business or tourist visas (B-1/B-2).
- North Korea: Suspends the entry of all immigrants and nonimmigrants.
- Venezuela: Suspends the entry of certain government officials and their family members on business or tourist visas (B-1/B-2).
The indefinite ban immediately impacts nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen with no bona fide relationship to a U.S. person or entity, and will take effect for all other impacted nationals of those countries, as well as nationals of Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela, on October 18, 2017.
Trump’s insistence on imposing travel bans is similar to his infatuation with building a wall on our Southern border. Both policies have been thoroughly criticized by security experts, including former top DHS and DOS leaders, who have pointed out that there are far better ways to improve border security than through these divisive, symbolic acts. Yet Trump seems hell bent on delivering these acts to appease his far-right supporters (who appear to want a white, Christian ethno-state). Trump also seems to have zero understanding and respect for the principles this country was founded upon and the role of the President as a unifier rather than a divider.