Trump travel ban goes ahead

PASSPORT holders
from Chad, Iran, Libya,
Somalia, Syria, Yemen,
North Korea and
Venezuela residing in
South Africa will no longer
be able to travel to the
United States following a
vote last week in favour of
enacting the contentious
US travel ban.
Affected nationals
residing in South Africa
should contact the US
Embassy regarding
applications for business
or VFR entry.
The ban formed part
of President Donald
Trump’s electoral pledge
to enforce a “total and
complete shutdown” of
Muslims entering the
United States.
This is the third version
of the ban to be issued
since January and all
previous stays that had
been put in place have
now been lifted by the US
Supreme Court of Justice.
However, an executive
action announced in July
does allow for exceptions
to be made for travellers
with ‘bona fide’ links
inside the United States,
such as documented
business purposes or
close family relationships.
Anti-discrimination
organisations will
continue to lobby against
the bill and the American
Civil Liberties Union is
currently attempting to
put another injunction in
place through the Court
of Appeals.
The high court is
expected to judge the
ban on its merits in the
coming months and to
rule on whether it violates
constitutional protections
against discrimination.