Donald Trump ‘Muslim ban’ set to hit Brits as it emerges policy applies to ANYONE born in banned countries
BRITS could be hit by Donald Trump’s sweeping so-called "Muslim ban" after it was revealed the policy applies to anyone born in the list of banned countries, even if they now hold citizenship of another country.
The US president this week signed off an executive order denying people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia entry to the USA for 90 days.
But people travelling on passports from countries other than these who originally come from one of the list of banned countries could also be prevented from entering to the US.
That means Brits with dual nationality that had planned getaways to the US in the next three months could be set for holiday misery.
A US State Department official told the that people travelling on British passports would be turned away if they were found to also have citizenship of one of Trump’s blacklisted countries.
A statement from the US government quoted by the paper reads: “Travellers who have nationality or dual nationality of one of these countries will not be permitted for 90 days to enter the United States or be issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa.
“Those nationals or dual nationals holding valid immigrant or non-immigrant visas will not be permitted to enter the United States during this period.
“Visa interviews will generally not be scheduled for nationals of these countries during this period.”
Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi confirmed that as a Brit "of Iraqi origin" he was banned from entering the United States as a result of the order.
Related stories
The revelation comes as stories begin to circulate about the first passengers to be turned away from the USA after the ban came into force.
Seven people – six Iraqis and a Yemeni – were stopped from boarding a flight from Cairo, Egypt, to New York today despite having valid visas to travel to America.
Dutch airline KLM also revealed it has had to turn away seven would-be passengers because they would no longer have been accepted into the US.
Donald Trump's potential list of countries that have travel restrictions placed on them
- Syria – Ravaged by civil war for nearly six years, the lawless country is the home base and training centre for a host of terror groups, including ISIS and the formerly Al Qaeda-linked Al Nusra Front.
- Iraq – Unstable since the 2003 US-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, ISIS took over swathes of the country with ease in 2014, taking advantage of the sympathetic Sunni minority that made the same areas a breeding ground for Al Qaeda during the anti-West insurgency.
- Iran – A radical Islamist republic since the 1979 revolution – remembered by many in America for the hostage crisis after the country’s embassy in Tehran was stormed – Iran was branded “the foremost sponsor of terrorism in 2015” by the US State Department.
- Libya – Essentially a failed state since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has seen jihadi groups flourish in recent years, with between seven and nine radical organisations believed to be operating there, according to one US official.
- Somalia – Arguably the world most famous and longest-running failed state, with no effective government since 1991. Home to infamous jihadi group Al Shabbab.
- Sudan – Previously on the State Department’s list of terror sponsors and still a supporter of Palestinian terror group Hamas. Previously used as a transit point for Brit jihadis looking to travel to Syria.
- Yemen – A long-time haven for Al Qaeda and now with a growing ISIS presence since the country was carved in two by the recent civil war which broke out in 2014.
And it is understood that Google have recalled all their staff travelling abroad back to America over visa fears.
reports that a memo sent to Google’s staff stated that over 100 employees were affected by the situation.
The ban sparked panic yesterday when it came into effect at 4.30pm with many passengers left in legal limbo as to whether or not their valid visas would be accepted if they tried to enter the US.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368.