US President Donald Trump has signed a revised executive order for a US travel ban, leaving Iraq off the list of targeted countries, after his controversial first attempt was blocked in the courts.
Key points:
- Iraq’s new vetting procedures cited as reason for being removed from list
- Legal residents, green card holders, refugees in transit reportedly exempt from new ban
- Indefinite suspension of Syria also scrapped
- Critics expect new executive order to face same uphill battle in courts as the last ban
The new order will keep a 90-day ban on travel to the United States by citizens of six Muslim-majority nations — Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
Iraq was taken off the list of countries in the original order, issued on January 27, because the Iraqi Government had imposed new vetting procedures, such as heightened visa screening and data sharing, and because of its work with the US in countering Islamic State militants, White House officials said.
Thousands of Iraqis have fought alongside US troops for years or worked as translators since the US-led invasion in 2003 — many have resettled in the United States following threats for working with US troops.
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