Donald Trump has issued a new, significant travel ban that prohibits individuals from entering 12 African and predominantly Muslim nations.
The move announced on Wednesday resurrects a controversial policy from the first term of President Obama and follows a recent Colorado attack that was aimed at an event in support of Israeli hostages.
Trump also signed another proclamation that suspended visas for foreign students who wanted to take part in Harvard University exchange programs.
A presidential proclamation outlines the newly-implemented travel ban. It covers Afghanistan, Myanmar (Myanmar), Chad, Equatorial Guindy, Eritrea and Haiti. Iran is also included.
This measure also limits the entry of individuals from Burundi (Cuba), Laos, Sierra Leone (Sierra Leone), Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
In a social media video posted Wednesday, Trump connected the ban with the recent Colorado attacks, saying:
Recent terror attacks in Boulder, Colorado have highlighted the dangers that foreigners who enter our country without being properly vetted and those who overstay their temporary visas pose to us. They are not welcome.
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Trump blamed earlier in the week the former president Joe Biden’s immigration policies for the presence in Colorado of the suspect, who was an Egyptian citizen, who overstayed his visa. This new ban would have not affected him.
Witnesses said they saw the suspect throw an explosive device and use a flamethrower. CBS News was the first to report Trump’s attempts to ban travelers from 12 countries.
Certain exemptions apply to the ban. The ban does not affect individuals with valid visas or permanent legal residents in the U.S.
Exempted are those who have special visas issued to escape persecution in Iran, or assist US military operations in Afghanistan.
Harvard is also on the radar: Student exchange visas are suspended
Separately, but in a similar manner, the President Trump issued a proclamation that suspended visas for foreign students who wanted to take part in Harvard University’s exchange program.
The move is aimed at an institution which has been repeatedly criticized by the Trump Administration, who allege that the university has a liberal bent and hasn’t done enough to combat antisemitism.
Trump accused Harvard of not disciplining conduct violations adequately on campus in the proclamation he made about Harvard.
Harvard only released information about three students who were accused of illegal or dangerous activities.
Trump said that Harvard’s actions showed it was either not reporting all of its records on foreign students, or not taking its foreign students seriously.
The action is a result of earlier administrative pressures placed on Harvard. These included the suspension of federal grants for research, which was reportedly due in part to penalties relating to the governance and internal control issues at the university.
A sweeping immigration plan, echoing the past
The new ban on travel is a continuation of the controversial policies implemented by Trump during his first term. These banned travelers from Cuba and Iran as well as Libya, North Korea. Somalia, Sudan. Syria, Venezuela.
Afghanistan’s inclusion on the list of countries is notable, especially after the suspension by the Trump Administration of its US Refugee Program and freezing federal funding to assist programs. This includes those that facilitate travel for Afghans who have already been approved for resettlement.
The measures taken by Trump are just the latest in a series of sweeping changes to immigration policy.
The agenda aims to crack down on illegal immigration, increase deportations and complete the US-Mexico wall that was started during his first term.
His presidential campaign in 2024 was focused on securing the US border, driven by voters’ concerns over crime and an influx of migrants.
Trump immediately began efforts to restore the travel ban upon taking office.
The Secretary of State, Homeland Security and Attorney General were ordered to determine which countries “have inadequate screening and vetting information that warrants a suspension of admission for nationals of those countries on a full or partial basis.”
Legal challenges to be expected and the test of president’s powers
As with its predecessor, the newly reinstated ban on travel is expected to be challenged in court.
In the courtroom, many of Trump’s immigration policies during his time in office are currently being litigated.
The President has repeatedly vowed that he will implement an immigration agenda which tests the boundaries of his executive authority.
Trump’s first term travel ban is a pivotal moment in his presidency.
The first order was issued in 2017 within days after his inauguration. It barred 90-day entry to the US of people from seven countries with a majority Muslim population.
This order sparked chaos at airports and sparked global protests. It also triggered a flood of lawsuits to stop it, as critics called the “Muslim Ban”.
Trump said that the move was crucial to national security.
In an attempt to survive further legal scrutiny, after initial setbacks in the courts, the administration revised its orders. It changed the target countries list and provided more details on the extent of restrictions.
In 2018, the US Supreme Court ultimately upheld the ban on travel in an 5-4 decision.
The Court dismissed claims that this policy was directed at Muslims, and in so doing, it delivered an important legal victory for Trump. It also strengthened a president’s authority to control the borders of the country.
As soon as he takes office in 2021, President Biden will sign an executive order to end Trump’s ban on travel.
Trump pledged during his 2024 election campaign to expand the program to include refugees from Gaza, and Trump’s recent actions have delivered on this key agenda item.
Trump, since returning to the White House, has declared an emergency situation at the Southern Border, and directed the Pentagon to provide additional resources in order to deal with the crisis.
The courts have temporarily halted the deportation of illegal immigrants and the attempt to stop automatic citizenship for the children of those who are in the country without documentation.
The president also used tariffs as a tool to press Mexico and Canada into improving border security. He has instructed federal agencies to find federally-funded programs that provide benefits to illegal immigrants in the United States.
What are the 12 affected countries and why is Harvard targeted by Trump’s travel ban? The ICD published this post first.
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