‘Hateful and unconstitutional’: Trump’s revised travel ban greeted with anger again
President Donald Trump’s new executive order banning residents of six countries from entering the US has been met with criticism as people question the countries targeted and claim there is little difference from the original ban.
.@POTUS has signed a new executive order that will keep the nation safe. Read it at https://t.co/XcBwwEJJHFpic.twitter.com/Yx2mikXl2A
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) March 6, 2017
The new order exempts Iraq from the travel ban, but Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen remain on the list of offending countries. Visas will not be issued to anyone from those countries for 90 days, and refugee admissions have been halted for four months.
READ MORE:Trump issues new travel ban for 6 Muslim-majority countries, excludes Iraq
Trump was forced to alter the original travel ban after it was challenged in US courts. For many, the altered ban offers no comfort and remains “discriminatory.”
“The only way to actually fix the Muslim ban is not to have a Muslim ban"@OmarJadwat, Director, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project #MuslimBan
— ACLU National (@ACLU) March 6, 2017
“The only way to actually fix the Muslim ban is not to have a Muslim ban"@OmarJadwat, Director, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project #MuslimBan
— ACLU National (@ACLU) March 6, 2017
Still discriminatory. Still based in fear-mongering, not fact. Still wrong. #NoBanNoWall#MuslimBanhttps://t.co/nUGg6RXE4apic.twitter.com/liYV9mWuKi
— SPLC (@splcenter) March 6, 2017
Support for #MuslimBan has dropped in every major religious group—except white evangelicals. They've become more supportive. pic.twitter.com/bGLOqVYeqM
— Joanna Piacenza (@jpiacenza) March 6, 2017
Muslim ban remains intact. Bigotry against 6 countries is the same as bigotry against 7 countries, or 70 countries or 1 country. Fight this!
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) March 6, 2017
While the new order removed Iraq from the list of banned countries, journalist Michael Tracey noted that an example within the order points to two Iraqi refugees who were arrested on terrorism-related offences in the US as part of the justification for the order.
New Trump executive order removes Iraq from the "ban" list, and then cites an incident involving Iraqis as justification for the order. pic.twitter.com/kYj8TmmpY5
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 6, 2017
@Pamela_Moore13 Then why dont we ban from countries that actually have produced terror regardless of Trump & CO's business ties 👎👎 #puppet
— SheepleTeaser (@sheeple_teaser) March 6, 2017
The #MuslimBan breeds hate, xenophobia & encourages profiling. We are fighting the ban here in DC District Court & will fight any new order
— Kristen Clarke (@KristenClarkeJD) March 6, 2017
.@POTUS "new" #MuslimBan out today is still a hateful and unconstitutional ban. Retweet this to show your opposition. pic.twitter.com/W9JazPaOzG
— AnneFrankCenter(US) (@AnneFrankCenter) March 6, 2017
The order explains that while parts of Iraq are a combat zone, with ISIS strongholds in the north and central regions, the “close cooperative relationship” between the US and the Iraqi government is enough to “justify different treatment” for the country.
READ MORE: Love it or leave: Sessions warns DOJ as Democrats push back on new travel ban
People questioned the justification for the ban, pointing to the US’s role in creating refugees and terrorists. Others queried why the six countries had been targeted over others, with social media users pointing to business interests as a possible explanation.
USA creates refugees so 1% can enrich themselves, then bans them as they try to escape the horror we & allies made of their world.#MuslimBan
— Beth Houston (@MacBethSpeaks) March 6, 2017
Under new #MuslimBan ISIS leader al-Baghdadi can apply for a US visa appointment. Syrian child refugee and Iranian PhD student cannot.
— Adam N Weinstein (@AdamNoahWho) March 6, 2017
The new #travelban appears to be more about business and less about safety & security#MuslimBan#MuslimBan2#1u#resist#Trump#maga#tcotpic.twitter.com/B3SMuovykP
— Richard Angwin (@RichardAngwin) March 6, 2017
As the Saudi gov were proven to have funded the 9/11 hijackers & Al-Qaeda & ISIS terrorists in Syria - why aren't Saudis banned?#MuslimBanpic.twitter.com/scui0D3zlq
— Ian56 (@Ian56789) March 6, 2017
And now Homeland Sec. John Kelly would like to remind you about 9/11.
— Jason Karsh (@jkarsh) March 6, 2017
None of the #MuslimBan countries were home to the 9/11 terrorists.
Unlike the administration's first attempt at introducing the ban, Trump signed the order away from the media and has not yet tweeted about it. White House press secretary Sean Spicer was criticized for holding an off-camera press briefing to discuss the executive order, as well as Trump’s claims that President Barack Obama wiretapped him during the election.
Spicer told reporters that Trump met with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly and advisor Stephen Miller over the weekend. “They made a determination that it was best to pursue this track,” Spicer said. “We maintain that the order was fully lawful. It was discussed with the president Saturday and he made the decision [to revoke the original executive order].”
