Trump’s Immigration ban: 5 key facts

Donald John Trump, the President of the United States Of America had recently announced a ban on immigrants from seven nations. Let’s understand the five key changes that are associated with this ban:

1. Suspends entire US refugee admission system for 120 days.
2. Suspends the Syrian refugee program indefinitely.
3. Issues a ban from seven majority-muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for 90 days. Dual nationals, who are from these seven countries, but also have an additional passport (of some other country) will also be barred from entering the country for the next 90 days.
4. Prioritizes refugee claims on the basis of religious persecution. Hence, an applicant belonging to a religion that is a minority in their country of origin would be given more preference.
5. Lowers the limit of total refugees in U.S from 1,10,000 to 50,000.

Americans have reacted strongtly against this ban..

• There has been a lot of confusion at ports and airports as approved refugees, valid visa holders, non US dual citizens and US legal residents have been detained.
• Thousands of Americans have protested near airports.
• New York taxi drivers have even staged a work stoppage near Kennedy airport.
• More than 3400 researchers – including 18 Nobel Prize winners have signed a petition denouncing Trump’s actions.
• 187 Google employees, who live and work in the U.S have been affected from this ban.
• Many employers have advised their employees to not leave the country.
• U.S universities, see this ban as affecting many of their students, professors and postdocs who are from these seven banned countries.

These are how some Tech stalwarts have reacted to this ban:

“We are upset about the impact of this order and any proposals that could impose restrictions on Googlers and their families, or that could create barriers to bringing great talent to the US”

– Google CEO, Sundar Pichai

“We need to keep this country safe, but we should do that by focusuing on people who actually pose a threat”

– Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg

The Curios Case of Pakistan..

While Pakistan has not been included in the intial list of seven countries that has been affected from this ban. White House has clearly indicated that countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia may also be included to this list in the future. While this may have been the reason of worry for thousands of Pakistanis planning to visit the U.S, former Pakistan cricket captain and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan is happy with the news. He says, “The day we bring back the merit system back to Pakistan, all our best citizens will return and work for the betterment of this country”.

Green card holders can breathe a sigh of relief..

Initially the ban included those who hold US green cards but are citizens of the seven listed countries. But later an exception had been made and those with green cards will now be allowed back in the country. Mr Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus had said, “As far as green card holders going forward, it doesn’t affect them,”

Will this make America Great Again?

Though it may sound harsh, but Donald J Trump had shown why he is an immature polictician. The U.S had already reduced the number of immigrants into the country, and hence such a decision was not required at the moment. Though, he may not agree but he has inadverently targeted a particular religion and this may perhaps put him in bad light for the millions of American-muslims residing in the country. There has been thousands of innocent immigrants who have been affected by this decision. Some of them might not be able to return to the U.S again. The last thing that America would want, is a dictator in the name of a President.

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