Well this will surely go over well. President Donald Trump signed an executive order this morning limiting visas from certain countries as well as a temporary halt to refugee approvals from the same countries for a 120-day period.
Here’s the actual text of the executive order, which I encourage everyone to read before heading to the comments section or your friendly neighborhood Facebook/Reddit/Twitter account.
For those who would rather read a summary, I’ll do my best, but I strongly encourage you to do your own research as well since I will only hit the high points:
- The new order imposes a 90-day halt on the issuance of visas to citizens of six countries: Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Libya. Iraq is excluded from the new order since the Iraqi government has “expressly undertaken steps to enhance travel documentation, information sharing, and the return of Iraqi nationals subject to orders of removal”
- Holders of existing visas will not be affected
- A cap on new refugees, limiting the number accepted to 50,000 per year (down from the previous administration, although President Obama also had a 50,000 refugee cap during his administration)
- The order goes into effect March 16, 10 days from now
The Washington Post quotes Attorney General Jeff Sessions, “This executive order responsibly provides a needed pause so we can carefully review how we scrutinize people coming here from these countries of concern.”
President Trump signed the order out of the public eye, a bit of a departure from his previous executive orders.
As with all things, I think it’s important to understand travel news like this without really getting into personal political opinions. On balance I think this executive order is more targeted and specific compared to the first one Trump signed and it also gives authorities and travelers 10 days to prepare.
(I’m going to keep a close eye on the comments for this post, please be respectful regardless of your personal opinions)
Ahh yes, a Trump apologist. Well you do live in Texas.
Is it respectful to take that opinion? No insults, just an opinion of how you come across.
I also think that the way this country is going is a very very dark one. One that is not true to the reason why this country became so great.
His executive order is founded on fear and nothing concrete.
Demonizing Mexicans, muslims, and more are the standards we expect nowadays. I have Syrian refugee friends who are among the nicest people Ive ever met, they are respectful kind professionals who have spent thousands on lawyer fees and gone through a lot of vetting. A lot. They have nowhere to go now.
You’re a traveler. How much has travel broadened your horizons?
Not apologizing for anyone, just trying to report the facts of the situation. You’re welcome to have any opinion you like of course, and thanks for contributing your thoughts.
I think the key is how it will be implemented by Border Control. I’m hearing stories of U.S. military members who are green card holders being deported because they were born in some of these countries. There also seems to be more harassment at the border of ordinary people coming from countries that pose no risk, like Australia or Germany. I suspect much of that is rogue agents who feel authorized to do so based on the climate that’s been created about risk and foreign visitors. In the end, the actual words of the EO matter less though than how it’s perceived (esp by DHS and Border Control) and “enforced.”
Great to hear, trust no pompous judge will try to block this one. Democrats have ruined our country.