Baghdad relieved by Trump’s exclusion of Iraq from travel ban

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order banning nationals of six Muslim countries to enter the United States, excluding Iraq from the list of a previous ban.

Donald Trump’s newly-reworded executive order to clamp down on immigrants from Muslim-majority countries has been declared equally discriminatory as the first ban and could still be challenged in the courts, according to lawyers.

In a call with reporters, senior officials from Homeland Security and Justice Department said the travel ban was necessary to allow the government to review what more can be done to properly vet would-be visitors and refugees. While the first ban restricted travel of people with valid visas from those countries, this one instead suspends any new visa processing for the next 90 days, the New York Times reported.

Some countries targeted under a new U.S. travel ban passed by President Donald Trump have attacked the move, along with the United Nations.

The new order will not come into effect until March 16, in contrast with the earlier order that was effective immediately, leading to confusion at airports and leaving many people in transit stranded. The judge was supported by an appeals court, forcing the Trump administration to redraft the order.

But if advance reports are correct (and the order is properly followed by airlines and border agents), it won’t cause visible chaos within America, or for people already here.

Andrew Greenfield, an immigration attorney and managing partner of Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy’s Washington office, said the new ban is less vague than the first one, but it still raises questions. Hawaii’s suit against the original executive order was put on hold.

American civil rights groups, and a number of states, have indicated that they will continue to fight the travel ban in courts.

Despite its revisions, the new ban’s continued focus on Muslim-majority countries has drawn instant criticism from Hollywood stars, who took to social media to weigh in.

“Halting the resettlement of all refugees, including Syrians, is not just cruel, but it also plays into the hands of ISIS and other extremists who thrive on the message that the United States is anti-Muslim”, said Matthew G. Olsen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. The order gives country-wise details justifying the inclusion of each and also explains the exclusion of Iraq.

Tillerson described the new order Monday morning as “a vital measure for strengthening our national security”. “If they are, it’s pursuant to our ordinary screening procedures”, the Department of Homeland Security official said.

But people who are exempt from the ban – but need a new visa to return to the United States – might face problems while it is in effect.

“It is important to note that nothing in this executive order affects current lawful permanent residents or persons with current authorisation to enter our country”.