Trump's travel ban has revoked 60,000 visas for now

[rooster59]

Trump's travel ban has revoked 60,000 visas for now

By Mica Rosenberg and Lesley Wroughton

 

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About 60,000 visas were revoked under U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily halting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, the State Department said on Friday, in one of several government communications clarifying how the order is being rolled out.

 

The revocation means the government voided travel visas for people trying to enter the United States but the visas could be restored later without a new application, said William Cocks, a spokesman for consular affairs at the State Department.

"We will communicate updates to affected travellers following the 90-day review," he said.

Earlier news reports, citing a government attorney at a federal court hearing, put the figure at more than 100,000 visas.

The government issued over 11 million immigrant and non-immigrant visas in fiscal year 2015, the State Department said.

The immigration executive order signed by Trump a week ago temporarily halted the U.S. refugee program and imposed a 90-day suspension on people travelling from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Trump said the measures would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-04

Under President Barack Obama, Trump's predecessor, the United States added those seven countries as "countries of concern" under its visa waiver program, effectively toughening U.S. visa procedures for individuals who visited those places during the past five years.

Trump's executive order was at least in part informed by those restrictions. The new president, who took office on Jan. 20, went further by temporarily barring passport holders from those seven countries.

The State Department first issued the guidance about revoking the visas on Jan. 27, the day Trump signed his executive order, according to a memo filed in a court case in Massachusetts.

But confusion about the roll out of the order sparked protests at airports across the country where people had been detained and led to a wave of lawsuits filed by individuals, states and civil rights groups.

To further clarify how the order should be applied, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent out a letter to all of its employees on Feb. 2, according to a copy of the memo seen by Reuters.

The memo said the agency was continuing to process all applications and petitions for people inside the United States regardless of their country of origin. It also said all applications for permanent residency and adjustment of status can move forward.

USCIS said they could not discuss internal employee communications.

The Department of Homeland Security had earlier clarified, after some initial back-and-forth, that the order would not apply to green card holders. Also people from the seven countries who hold dual citizenship are allowed to enter the United States on the passport of a non-restricted nation when eligible, according to Feb. 2 guidance posted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's website.

[Ulysses G.]

Sad for those who have been waiting to get into the country, but something like this should have been done long ago. Europe has been the canary in the coalmine.

[ezzra]

 

8 or so years ago, it was utterly inconceivable that a black person will be the president of the USA, what more of a jaw dropping was that this person also has a history of raised and brought up as a Muslim, Now, everybody is screaming blue murder when an unorthodox person as Trump, shaking the very core of the liberal lefty Arabs/Muslims pleasing administration without even giving him a chance to prove himself, So suck it America and the rest of the world, as this man is there for at least the next 4 years.....

 

[jpinx]

Get over it -- it's not the first time USA has cancelled *ALL* visas. 

[ddavidovsky]

The policy is unworkable - as are a lot of Trump's policies - the liberals have too strong a voice - but that's not the point. The point is to make a point.

Good for America, but we now have to expect more terrorist attacks in Europe.

 

[Jip99]

3 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

The policy is unworkable - as are a lot of Trump's policies - the liberals have too strong a voice - but that's not the point. The point is to make a point.

Good for America, but we now have to expect more terrorist attacks in Europe.

 

 

 

By the same logic, if Europe took a hard stance then the terrorists would go somewhere else....................

 

 

I can see the counter argument that says US policy may wreak more attacks on USA.

[NoshowJones]

20 minutes ago, ddavidovsky said:

The policy is unworkable - as are a lot of Trump's policies - the liberals have too strong a voice - but that's not the point. The point is to make a point.

Good for America, but we now have to expect more terrorist attacks in Europe.

 

Of course we have, especially as the UK keep letting them in and allow their speeches and marches of hate and their women, who could be dressed as terrorists, and have been before, by lawfully going about with covered faces. The next atrocities are on their way while the politicians are safe in their mansions and bullet proof cars.

 

[edwinchester]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

 

8 or so years ago, it was utterly inconceivable that a black person will be the president of the USA, what more of a jaw dropping was that this person also has a history of raised and brought up as a Muslim, Now, everybody is screaming blue murder when an unorthodox person as Trump, shaking the very core of the liberal lefty Arabs/Muslims pleasing administration without even giving him a chance to prove himself, So suck it America and the rest of the world, as this man is there for at least the next 4 years.....

 

If you want to attack Obama let it be for poor choices whilst in office without the need for spurious attacks about his upbringing.

He was raised mainly by his Christian mother and her Christian parents.

[sanukjim]

Some times when passing laws to protect people whether it is a federal or state law, the law when original passed is a type of "blanket law" covering also the people that it supposed to protect and has to be adjusted by an amendment.The US needed a law passed "close" to this and after more information comes in it will be adjusted even more. 

[boomerangutang]

       What burns my biscuit is the fact that the ban covers people with Green Cards.  Not cool.  Green cards are difficult to get and entail much vetting.  

 

       Secondly, the ban on the 7 countries gives added proof to the subjective business-oriented slant of Trump's presidency.  He unabashedly gives favors to countries where he has biz developments, and if there is a country to be punished, it can only be one where Trump has no biz dealings.  

 

That alone (never mind the dozens of other impeachable issues) should be grounds to impeach the dufus.

[craigt3365]

4 hours ago, Ulysses G. said:

Sad for those who have been waiting to get into the country, but something like this should have been done long ago. Europe has been the canary in the coalmine.

As you know, not one citizen from these countries has killed an American on US soil.  There are much more important things to focus on.  This isn't one of them. 

 

The US is nothing like the EU.  Can't compare the two.

[Ramen087]

40 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

       What burns my biscuit is the fact that the ban covers people with Green Cards.  Not cool.  Green cards are difficult to get and entail much vetting.  

The order doesn't apply to green card holders. See last sentence of the article in the OP. How many people do you know who want to start a business in Yemen, or Syria or a country with sanctions against it? Leaning towards business isn't an issue for many people; as Bill Clinton has stated in the past: "It's the economy, _______.".

[JHolmesJr]

47 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

       What burns my biscuit is the fact that the ban covers people with Green Cards.  Not cool.  Green cards are difficult to get and entail much vetting.  

I know someone who won his in a lottery.

[craigt3365]

42 minutes ago, Ramen087 said:

The order doesn't apply to green card holders. See last sentence of the article in the OP. How many people do you know who want to start a business in Yemen, or Syria or a country with sanctions against it? Leaning towards business isn't an issue for many people; as Bill Clinton has stated in the past: "It's the economy, _______.".

When it first came out, it sure did apply to green card holders...at least it was so vague, nobody knew what to do.  A total mess.

[thesetat2013]

I find it amazing this is the first news that actually reflects that this is not the whim of the new president and even more so, doesnt cast him in a bad light. It is about time the news actually reports unbiased news and stops demeaning trump for everything.

[boomerangutang]

1 hour ago, thesetat2013 said:

I find it amazing this is the first news that actually reflects that this is not the whim of the new president and even more so, doesnt cast him in a bad light. It is about time the news actually reports unbiased news and stops demeaning trump for everything.

        News is news.  It reports what Trump says and does.  Naturally, Trump fans don't like reporters (Trump calls them 'the most dishonest people'), because they don't want the truth reported, they only want things which heap praise on their Great Leader.

 

          Mainstream news played a big part in helping Trump get elected.  Every time he said something ridiculous (which was every day), it got Trump on the front pages.  In show business and politics; 'there's no such thing as bad publicity.'  Trump knows that because he's both a showman and a politician.  Dumbass Americans like people they're familiar with, and are scared of the unknown.  If there's a strange man walking around their neighborhood at night, they're going to be highly suspicious of him, even tho he may be a wonderful person.  Yet they'll love Uncle Phil, even though he's a child-molester and/or drug dealer, because they're familiar with their family member, and are quick to excuse his noxious activities.  It's human nature, and it's a big reason why Trump got elected.    

 

 

[hdkane]

6 hours ago, edwinchester said:

If you want to attack Obama let it be for poor choices whilst in office without the need for spurious attacks about his upbringing.

He was raised mainly by his Christian mother and her Christian parents.

his formative years were spent as a muslim...

[hdkane]

5 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

As you know, not one citizen from these countries has killed an American on US soil.  There are much more important things to focus on.  This isn't one of them. 

 

The US is nothing like the EU.  Can't compare the two.

I'm sure there is quite a bit of information and intelligence that is not divulged to citizens...these nations were also restricted by obama...perhaps the "ban" is addressing potential threats, rather than those that were successful.

[dunroaming]

Doesn't matter any more.  Trumps stupid ban has been overturned by a federal judge in Seattle.  All are welcome again!  For now anyway.

 

Every journey starts with a small step and this is hopefully the first step of the journey to stop the lunacy of Trump.

[Scott]

9 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

I know someone who won his in a lottery.

Yes, when the immigrant numbers set by congress are not met, then they have a lottery to allow others who would otherwise not be eligible to apply through the lottery.   It''s not exactly a 'win' because you still have to meet all the criteria, including the income level, job etc..

[boomerangutang]

15 hours ago, hdkane said:

I'm sure there is quite a bit of information and intelligence that is not divulged to citizens...these nations were also restricted by obama...perhaps the "ban" is addressing potential threats, rather than those that were successful.

        If the US administration wants to address potential threats, then perhaps it should ban entry from citizens of every country except Scandinavia. Iceland and NZ.  Reality check; threats and harm can come from anywhere, even (albeit especially) from within the US.  The 9-11 mass murderers originated from Saudi, yet routed thru Germany, and trained in the US.  Perhaps Trump should also compel US citizens to get written bureaucratic 'Travel Papers' to enable them to travel from city to city or county to county within the US.  That's similar to apartheid in S.Africa, and what's going on in Burma (border guards around every city), and Thailand (some hill tribers need bureaucratic permission to travel outside their home village).  

 

       The biggest threat to Americans is Americans.  Look at the statistics.  

 

         The biggest threats to Americans' health and well-being are sugar and pharma drugs (much bigger than any threats from hoodoo terrorists from Muslim countries), but those are different topics....

 

 

 

[craigt3365]

18 minutes ago, boomerangutang said:

        If the US administration wants to address potential threats, then perhaps it should ban entry from citizens of every country except Scandinavia. Iceland and NZ.  Reality check; threats and harm can come from anywhere, even (albeit especially) from within the US.  The 9-11 mass murderers originated from Saudi, yet routed thru Germany, and trained in the US.  Perhaps Trump should also compel US citizens to get written bureaucratic 'Travel Papers' to enable them to travel from city to city or county to county within the US.  That's similar to apartheid in S.Africa, and what's going on in Burma (border guards around every city), and Thailand (some hill tribers need bureaucratic permission to travel outside their home village).  

 

       The biggest threat to Americans is Americans.  Look at the statistics.  

 

         The biggest threats to Americans' health and well-being are sugar and pharma drugs (much bigger than any threats from hoodoo terrorists from Muslim countries), but those are different topics....

I love the stat I read the other day.  Children kill more people in the US than terrorists do! LOL

[mtls2005]

Hard to keep up but believe cancelled visas have been reinstated by the State Department, for now.

[Ramen087]

22 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

When it first came out, it sure did apply to green card holders...at least it was so vague, nobody knew what to do.  A total mess.

It was a mess but only briefly. And it was straightened out. I don't see the big deal about that. Here is what I don't get. Now that Trump is on office it is just awful people are bring turned away at an airport. But when Obama was in office and we were dropping bombs on these people in their own country nobody had the energy to even shrug about it. Partisanship at its worst.

[craigt3365]

33 minutes ago, Ramen087 said:

It was a mess but only briefly. And it was straightened out. I don't see the big deal about that. Here is what I don't get. Now that Trump is on office it is just awful people are bring turned away at an airport. But when Obama was in office and we were dropping bombs on these people in their own country nobody had the energy to even shrug about it. Partisanship at its worst.

You are comparing apples and oranges.  But yes, many were not happy about the US's escapades in various foreign countries.  Many.  Just like many are not happy with this poorly planned travel ban.  Which in the end, doesn't accomplish anything significant.

[Ramen087]

3 minutes ago, craigt3365 said:

You are comparing apples and oranges.  But yes, many were not happy about the US's escapades in various foreign countries.  Many.  Just like many are not happy with this poorly planned travel ban.  Which in the end, doesn't accomplish anything significant.

So getting rid of Qaddafi, making Yemen the disaster that it now is, and Syria the international abomination accomplished something?  It is clear you don't understand the difference between killing, maiming, orphaning people, and reducing their infrastructure to rubble, and eliminating hope and having people wait a few weeks to re-enter the USA should have elicited the exact opposite reactions.

[craigt3365]

4 minutes ago, Ramen087 said:

So getting rid of Qaddafi, making Yemen the disaster that it now is, and Syria the international abomination accomplished something?  It is clear you don't understand the difference between killing, maiming, orphaning people, and reducing their infrastructure to rubble, and eliminating hope and having people wait a few weeks to re-enter the USA should have elicited the exact opposite reactions.

You're defending the crazy dictator Qaddafi?  The one who killed and tortured his own people?  And lived the life of billionaire while his people lived in poverty?  Really? LOL

 

The mess in Yemen is a regional conflict.  Research about Iran and Saudi Arabia's actions there.  Please read this:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423

Quote

 

More than 6,800 people have been killed and 35,000 injured since March 2015, the majority in air strikes by a Saudi-led multinational coalition that backs the president.

.......

Alarmed by the rise of a group they believed to be backed militarily by regional Shia power Iran, Saudi Arabia and eight other mostly Sunni Arab states began an air campaign aimed at restoring Mr Hadi's government.

 

The coalition received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France.

 

 

[boomerangutang]

6 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

I love the stat I read the other day.  Children kill more people in the US than terrorists do! LOL

.....and those children are sons and daughters of gun huggers.  How else would those kids have access to guns?  Darwinism at work.   And kids kill kids in the US.  It's not intentional, but when there's a loaded gun around, bad things can happen.