President Trump has finally signed the new executive order that temporarily seeks to block visas from being issued to citizens of six majority-Muslim countries, revoking and replacing the controversial executive order that was banned.
The new executive order is similar to the initial order that was signed on the 27th of January in that it bars arrivals from specific majority-Muslim countries for 90 days and suspends the U.S. refugee program for 120 days. The order also caps the total number of refugee’s admitter this fiscal year at 50,000, which is a decrease from the initial 110,000.
However, Iraq is no longer included as one of the countries that has been barred. The executive order doesn’t apply to lawful permanent residents or existing visa holders. The order has also excluded Syrian refugees and for the refugees that are already formally scheduled for travel to the U.S. they’ll be permitted to enter the country
A section on prioritizing refugees from minority religions in their home countries has also been omitted from the new order. Unlike the initial order that prioritized Christians, this order will reduce the challenge since it’s not a form of Muslim ban.
The order will experience delayed implementation since it’s expected to go into effect on the 16th of March in a move aimed at reducing the chaotic situation that was accompanied by the initial order.
People traveling from Sudan, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia and Yemen have been blocked by the new order. However, Iraq is not included in the order since the administration has pledged to increase cooperation with the U.S.
One of the senior administration officials also said that Iraq has agreed to the timely repatriation of Iraq citizens in the U.S. who are slated for deportation. Iraq was one of the 23 countries that were considered as recalcitrant for refusing to cooperate with the U.S. in deportation.
