JFK Airport NY, Photo by Doug Letterman via Wikimedia Commons
The Department of Homeland Security said Friday it has not identified any other countries warranting inclusion on the list of seven states whose citizens facing temporary travel suspension under the executive order on immigration.
The Executive Order, issued by President Donald Trump, imposes a 90-day pause on the entry into the United States of nationals from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen. Speculations about new additions stemmed last Sunday when a senior White House official indicated that the US could consider other countries including Pakistan for addition to the list in the future.
According to the DHS, the measure seeks “to ensure that the U.S. government can conduct a thorough analysis of the national security risks faced by our immigration system.”
The imposition of restrictions led to protests in several cities against the measure and disrupted travel plans of passengers in transit.
But the DHS statement clarified the pause on travel to the United States “does not apply to Lawful Permanent Residents, dual citizens with passports from a country other than the seven listed, or those traveling on diplomatic, NATO or UN visas.”
Moreover, Special Immigrant Visa holders who are nationals of these seven countries may board U.S.-bound planes, and apply for and receive a national interest exception to the pause upon arrival.
Amid speculations that other countries may be added to the list, the DHS noted these seven countries are the only countries to which the pause on entry applies.
“No other countries face such treatment. Nor have any other countries been identified as warranting future inclusion at this time, contrary to false reports.”
The Department said it is working with the Department of State and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to conduct a country-by-country review of the information provided by countries in order for their nationals to apply for myriad visas, immigration benefits, or otherwise seek admission into the United States.
This review is needed to ensure that individuals seeking to enter the U.S. are who they claim to be and do not pose a security or public-safety threat.
“The results of this review will be provided to the President within 30 days of the Executive Order’s signing. This review, conducted in consultation with our interagency partners, will determine which countries do not provide adequate information on their nationals seeking immigration benefits or admission into the United States.”
“Principally, the goal is to ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward the United States and its founding principles,” the DHS statement said.
Based on that report, the State Department will ask any foreign governments who were determined to not be supplying adequate information on their nationals to begin providing such information within 60 days, the Department said.
“In order to protect Americans, and to advance the national interest, the United States must ensure that we have adequate information about individuals seeking to enter this country to ensure that they do not bear malicious intent toward the United States and its people.”
