Trump extends travel ban to six new countries
FILE - In this May 15, 2017 file photo, protesters wave signs and chant during a demonstration against President Donald Trump's revised travel ban outside a federal courthouse in Seattle. The Trump administration has agreed to speed up the cases of some former interpreters for the U.S. military in Iraq. The decision also affects hundreds of other refugees whose efforts to move to the U.S. have been in limbo since he announced his travel bans three years ago. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
President Trump recently extended the travel ban to six new countries. This extension suspends the immigrant visa program for Nigeria, Myanmar, Eritrea and Kyrgyzstan. The ban also eliminates the U.S. diversity visa program from Sudan and Tanzania, which awards green cards to immigrants.
The order took effect on Feb. 22, but immigrants who obtained visas before the deadline are still eligible to travel to the U.S. Immigrants such as students, tourists and business people will remain unaffected by the restrictions.
Oluwatamilore Bankole, a junior psychology and political science major, said the proclamation contradicts what Trump promised about extending the economy to African countries.
“Trump said he wanted to keep a check on China and Russia’s power by extending the economy to African countries,” said Bankole. “He is promising [this] but also shutting down the largest economy in the continent. It is very confusing.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed disapproval of the new order.
“The Trump Administration’s expansion of its outrageous, un-American travel ban threatens our security, our values and the rule of law,“ Pelosi said in a statement.
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham defended the ban, claiming it ensures national security and protects the American people.
“[If] a foreign nation wishes to receive the benefits of immigration and travel to the United States, it must satisfy basic security conditions outlined by America’s law-enforcement and intelligence professionals,” Grisham said in a statement.
Officials cited failure to satisfy the administration’s information-sharing requirements related to terrorism and outdated passports as reasons for adding countries to the ban.
Bankole believes the national security argument is not relevant because Nigeria has been a strategic partner to maintain international security in the region.
“I don’t think Trump does anything for national security. He always has alternative motives,” said Bankole. “[The] U.S. has partnered with Nigeria to fight terrorism and promote peacekeeping before.”
Junior digital media major Delight Ejiaka said the Trump administration should do what it thinks is best for the country while being sincere with their policies. She added that the U.S. is exercising its leverage and misusing the strategic partnership with Nigeria through poor treatment.
“The problem is that they aren’t very transparent,” said Ejiaka, who is from Nigeria. “U.S. embassies in Nigeria are charging exorbitant prices for visa interviews while they know they aren’t going to provide those people with visas. A lot of people are stranded at the airport.”
As Nigerians navigate these new restrictions, the Eritrean government described the move as “unacceptable” in its official statement. Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama took a softer stance on the U.S. move and expressed “disappointment,” according to The Guardian. Kyrgyzstan stated this ban would further damage its relationship with the U.S.
For continued coverage of the travel ban, click here.
