Politics
07:49, 25-Sep-2017
US expands travel restrictions to eight countries
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US President Donald Trump revamped his travel ban with new restrictions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Venezuela, Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, according to a statement released by Trump's administration on Sunday.
Chad, the DPRK and Venezuela are new to the original list of affected countries, which are primarily Muslim-majority.
An international passenger (L) arrives at Dulles International Airport as a man (R) waits for loved ones to arrive in Dulles, Virginia, US September 24, 2017. /Reuters Photo
An international passenger (L) arrives at Dulles International Airport as a man (R) waits for loved ones to arrive in Dulles, Virginia, US September 24, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Somalia remained on the list of affected countries, while restrictions on citizens from Sudan were lifted.
The new restrictions will come into effect on October 18.
"Making America Safe is my number one priority. We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet," Trump said in a tweet shortly after the proclamation was released.
Under the new restrictions, Iraqi citizens will not be subject to travel prohibitions but will face enhanced scrutiny and vetting.
Trump's controversial travel ban, enacted from March this year, called for a 90 day ban on all arrivals to the US from Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, and a 120 day ban on all refugees. The original travel ban is expiring on Sunday evening.
Family members wait for loved ones to clear immigration and customs at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, US September 24, 2017. /Reuters Photo
Family members wait for loved ones to clear immigration and customs at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, US September 24, 2017. /Reuters Photo
The US Supreme Court ruled in June that the travel ban could apply if citizens of the six countries affected cannot prove any “bona fide” relationship with a US national.
Since the inauguration in January, Trump’s administration has issued a series of controversial policies on immigration, including the recent repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), a policy introduced in 2012 that gives children brought to the US illegally the right to temporarily stay, study and work in the country.
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