Chaos over Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban as US embassy now says British dual citizens WILL be refused entry despite Boris Johnson’s assurances
CONFUSION surrounds Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban after the American Embassy appeared to contradict assurances by Boris Johnson that British nationals would be exempt.
The Foreign Secretary indicated last night that dual nationals with UK citizenship are still able to enter the US, after thousands appeared to be caught up in the President’s controversial new policy.
But an urgent notice issued by the US Embassy in London this morning went against the guidance offered to Brits who have shared nationality with one of the seven mainly-Muslim countries covered by the restrictions.
The statement said visa issuance to “aliens from the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended effective immediately until further notification”.
It added: “If you are a national, or dual national, of one of these countries, please do not schedule a visa appointment or pay any visa fees at this time. If you already have an appointment scheduled, please do not attend your appointment as we will not be able to proceed with your visa interview."
But a UK Government spokesman insisted the FCO guidance "was cleared by the top team in the White House and they are in charge".
A Government source said that after seeing the US Embassy guidance, Mr Johnson "sought clarity from the White House and was informed that the FCO statement was correct".
The issue is likely to come up as Mr Johnson addresses MPs regarding Mr Trump's temporary travel ban on Muslims and refugees.
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The White House move has provoked widespread outrage and calls for Mr Trump's planned state visit to the UK to be downgraded.
There have been widespread protests across America, with a host of them planned for the UK this evening too.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said Theresa May "disagreed" with the ban, but the planned state visit would not be affected by it, despite a petition to Parliament calling for it to be scrapped getting the backing of more than one million people.
They added: "We don't agree with these restrictions, it is not the way we would do it.
"Where people's rights, UK citizens' rights, have been affected, we have set about getting a clarification to allow them to travel.
"We have extended an invitation to the president, he has accepted it, and it is right that we continue to forge our close relationships."
Pressed on why the honour of a state visit had been extended to the president so soon after taking office, the PM's spokesman said normal procedure was followed after recommendations were made by a committee for state visits which works within the Foreign Office.
"There is no set timing that a president needs to be in office before they receive, or don't receive, an invitation for a state visit.
"There is a process for state visits. Each year the Government looks at the recommendations that are made by the committee for state visits, those recommendations are then put to Buckingham Palace, the Palace then needs to agree to the visit, then, historically the invitation is extended on behalf of Her Majesty by the Government, and that is the process that took place this time," he said.
The spokesman said he was not aware of the membership of the committee.
But Baroness Warsi, who was the first female Muslim cabinet minister, said the US president should not be given the honour.
"If we want to continue to be a country that supports liberal, progressive values in which all have equal worth and equal value in our society, then we have to be clear that we voice that view and that opinion, so that people in this country know that whatever crazy things the president of the United States may be doing, it is not what we believe and not what we support."
In response to world wide condemnation of his move, President Trump tweeted: "There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter our country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!"
Tory MP Sarah Wollaston has said Mr Trump must not be invited to address both Houses of Parliament from Westminster Hall, pointedly insisting "those who wish to fawn over him" should do so elsewhere.
Number 10 said it was too early to comment on whether Mr Trump would address Parliament or not.