The Trump Administration is planning to temporarily suspend the entry of foreign nationals from “countries of particular concern’’, including many Muslim-majority nations, according to a draft report being circulated by a US immigration lawyer’s association. While the White House did not comment on the authenticity of the draft report, several American media outlets reported that these countries are predominantly Muslim-majority nations.
Notably, in the recent past both
the US President Donald Trump and several of his Cabinet colleagues have
refuted that the proposed ban would be based on religion. As per the leaked
draft order, released by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA),
the US government would suspend the issuance of visas for certain countries,
refugee admissions for 120 days, Syrian refugee processing indefinitely, and
the visa-interview waiver programme.
“The visa-issuance process plays
a crucial role in detecting individuals with terrorist ties and stopping them
from entering the US,” the draft order said, adding that hundreds of
foreign-born individuals have been convicted in terrorism related crimes since
9/11 attacks, including foreign nationals who entered the US after claiming
asylum; after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas; or through the
US refugee resettlement programme.
Deteriorating conditions in
certain countries due to war, strife, disaster, and civil unrest increases the
likelihood that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the US, it
said.
“The US must be vigilant during
the visa-issuance process to ensure that those approved for admission do not
intend to harm Americans and that they have no ties to terrorism,” it said. The
US must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile
attitudes towards the US and its founding principles, it said.
“We cannot, and should not, admit
into our country those who do not support the US Constitution, or those who
would place violent religious edicts over American law. “In addition, the US
should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry and hatred or those who
would oppress members of one race, one gender, or sexual orientation,” asserts
the draft order.
However, foreign nationals
travelling under diplomatic passports, NATO visas and C-2 visas for travel to
the United Nations would be exempted from the proposed restrictions.
As per the draft order, the
proposal also includes immediate suspension of the Visa Interview Waiver
Programme and makes it mandatory that all individuals seeking a non- immigrant
visa, undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions.
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