US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning citizens of 12 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America from entering the United States and imposing restrictions on citizens of seven other countries.
The ban will take effect on June 9. According to Trump, the decision is necessary to strengthen security.
“Very simply, we cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen,” the president explained. He also noted that the list will be reviewed depending on changes in each country.
Entry into the United States is prohibited, in particular, for citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. These countries are recognised as “ineffective in terms of vetting and screening and pose a very high risk to the United States,” the order states.
A partial entry ban has been imposed on citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Venezuela and Turkmenistan. They “also pose a high risk to the US.”
The order provides exceptions for lawful permanent residents, holders of existing visas, certain categories of visas, and individuals whose entry is in the national interest of the US.
“The restrictions and limitations imposed by this proclamation are necessary to garner co-operation from foreign governments, enforce our immigration laws, and advance other important foreign policy, national security, and counterterrorism objectives,” the document says.
Democrats criticised the order, calling it discriminatory. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said such measures isolate the US on the world stage. Other politicians accused Trump of violating American values.
During his first term as president, Trump also imposed a ban on citizens of certain countries. At that time, the list included Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.
