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Donald Trump defends Muslim-countries travel ban amid protests: 'our country needs strong borders' – live Donald Trump defends Muslim-countries travel ban amid protests: 'our country needs strong borders' – live
(35 minutes later)
4.58pm GMT
16:58
Wondering if your local Senator backs or criticizes the travel ban executive order?
This google document shows lists Senators alphabetically, noting whether they have opposed or remained silent to the ban, any link or public statement about it and the dates of their next re-election.
It also includes contact information, such as their office address, phone number and online contact details.
The document shows, for example, Senator Jeff Flake from Arizona, a Republican, has spoken out publicly against the ban, while Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana, has remained quiet and made no statement.
Updated
at 5.02pm GMT
4.51pm GMT
16:51
Travel ban will no longer apply to green-card holders, says Priebus
Only a day after casting airports around the US into confusion and hours after his first defeat in federal court, Donald Trump and his advisers flew into a defense of his vague and chaotically enforced ban on travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Trump’s chief of staff, Reince Priebus, however, appeared to concede ground when he said the ban would no longer apply to green-card holders.
... Appearing on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Priebus said 325,000 travelers had entered the US on Saturday and 109 were detained.
“Most of those people were moved out,” he said. “We’ve got a couple dozen more that remain and I would suspect that as long as they’re not awful people that they will move through before another half a day today.”
In an abrupt, apparent change from the White House’s original policy, Priebus said the order would no longer affect green-card holders. But he also suggested that “other countries” may “need to be added” to the travel ban.
“Maybe some of those people should be detained,” he said, although valid visa holders have already passed through an arduous screening and interview process.
Read the rest of the story here.
Updated
at 5.00pm GMT
4.33pm GMT
16:33
Henry McDonald
From the Guardian’s Ireland correspondent:
St Patrick’s Day and the annual “hooley” at the White House to celebrate Ireland’s national day could pose embarrassment for some of the Irish political parties that normally attend the Washington DC celebrations on 17 March.
The leader of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party Colum Eastwood confirmed today he will boycott Donald Trump’s hosting of the Shamrock-tinged shindig this year.
Speaking today ahead of Theresa May’s visit to Dublin on Monday where she will hold Brexit talks with Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Eastwood said the Trump ban on Muslim travellers underpinned his decision not to attend this year’s St.Patrick’s Day party in the White House.
He said it was up to other political parties both in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic to decide if they thought it was right to attend the annual St.Patrick’s Day party.
Eastwood said: “The worst fears about the Trump Presidency are coming to fruition. These immigration bans are a method of designed discrimination against one religion.
“This US presidency is not normal therefore normal diplomatic niceties should not apply. I would urge the Irish government to take every step possible to ensure that these discriminatory checks and bans are not enforced at our airports. We should have no hand, act or part in implementing this ban,” said Eastwood.
Taoiseach Kenny is expected to accept the new US President’s invite to the traditional St.Patrick’s Day celebrations but the Irish Premier’s Foreign Minister has expressed deep concern over the anti Muslim travel ban today.
Charlie Flanagan said he would be raising the ban during his visit to Washington DC next week.
“While US immigration policy is a matter for the US authorities, it is clear that the most recent decisions could have far-reaching implications - both on humanitarian grounds and on relations between the US and the global Muslim community,” the Republic’s Foreign Minister said.
4.22pm GMT4.22pm GMT
16:2216:22
Thousands expected at protest rallies across the USThousands expected at protest rallies across the US
Good morning from New York City, where rallies will take place throughout the US today in response to the executive order signed by the president on Friday banning refugees and suspending visas from residents of seven Muslim-majority countries.Good morning from New York City, where rallies will take place throughout the US today in response to the executive order signed by the president on Friday banning refugees and suspending visas from residents of seven Muslim-majority countries.
At 1pm ET, a huge rally is expected in Copley Square, Boston, hosted by CAIR Massachusetts. Over 16,000 people marked themselves as attending on the Facebook event. It will be held at “at the site of the Khalil Gibran Plaque - Gibran was an immigrant from Lebanon”, reads the event description.At 1pm ET, a huge rally is expected in Copley Square, Boston, hosted by CAIR Massachusetts. Over 16,000 people marked themselves as attending on the Facebook event. It will be held at “at the site of the Khalil Gibran Plaque - Gibran was an immigrant from Lebanon”, reads the event description.
At 2pm a large rally is expected at Battery Park in lower Manhattan, hosted by the New York Immigration Coalition. Over 9,500 people have marked themselves as attending on Facebook.At 2pm a large rally is expected at Battery Park in lower Manhattan, hosted by the New York Immigration Coalition. Over 9,500 people have marked themselves as attending on Facebook.
Thousands are expected to descend on the White House in DC at 1pm to protest the ban, with 13,000 people on Facebook saying they will attend the “No Muslim Ban” rally hosted by the group Peace for Iran.Thousands are expected to descend on the White House in DC at 1pm to protest the ban, with 13,000 people on Facebook saying they will attend the “No Muslim Ban” rally hosted by the group Peace for Iran.
Most major cities have a rally planned, and smaller rallies are expected all over the country, including Portland, ME, Reno, NV, Boise ID. Check out this Facebook post which shows all the currently planned rallies and their respective Facebook event page.Most major cities have a rally planned, and smaller rallies are expected all over the country, including Portland, ME, Reno, NV, Boise ID. Check out this Facebook post which shows all the currently planned rallies and their respective Facebook event page.
Are you at a rally in protest of Trump’s executive order today? Please tweet us pictures, news and video of the event at @ambiej!Are you at a rally in protest of Trump’s executive order today? Please tweet us pictures, news and video of the event at @ambiej!
3.57pm GMT3.57pm GMT
15:5715:57
That is it from me. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. My colleague Amber Jamieson in the Guardian’s US will be taking over from here.That is it from me. Thanks for all your comments and suggestions. My colleague Amber Jamieson in the Guardian’s US will be taking over from here.
3.41pm GMT3.41pm GMT
15:4115:41
Guardian political editor Anushka Asthana has a bit more on the statement from No 10.Guardian political editor Anushka Asthana has a bit more on the statement from No 10.
She says Boris Johnson will speak to two of Trump’s most senior advisers, Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, and make it clear the UK wants an exemption from this travel ban for its citizens.She says Boris Johnson will speak to two of Trump’s most senior advisers, Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner, and make it clear the UK wants an exemption from this travel ban for its citizens.
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.54pm GMTat 3.54pm GMT
3.29pm GMT3.29pm GMT
15:2915:29
The Press Association has just filed this:The Press Association has just filed this:
Prime minister Theresa May has ordered foreign secretary Boris Johnson and home secretary Amber Rudd to telephone their American counterparts to make representations about the US travel ban, Downing Street has said.Prime minister Theresa May has ordered foreign secretary Boris Johnson and home secretary Amber Rudd to telephone their American counterparts to make representations about the US travel ban, Downing Street has said.
3.28pm GMT3.28pm GMT
15:2815:28
According to the Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, has added her voice to calls for Trump’s state visit to the UK to be cancelled.According to the Guardian’s political editor Anushka Asthana, Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Tory leader, has added her voice to calls for Trump’s state visit to the UK to be cancelled.
State visits are designed for both the host, and the head of state who is being hosted, to celebrate and entrench the friendships and shared values between their respective countries.State visits are designed for both the host, and the head of state who is being hosted, to celebrate and entrench the friendships and shared values between their respective countries.
A state visit from the current president of the United States could not possibly occur in the best traditions of the enterprise while a cruel and divisive policy which discriminates against citizens of the host nation is in place.A state visit from the current president of the United States could not possibly occur in the best traditions of the enterprise while a cruel and divisive policy which discriminates against citizens of the host nation is in place.
I hope President Trump immediately reconsiders his Muslim ban.I hope President Trump immediately reconsiders his Muslim ban.
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.48pm GMTat 3.48pm GMT
3.23pm GMT3.23pm GMT
15:2315:23
The scale of opposition to Trump’s travel plan in the UK continues to grow. A petition to cancel a state visit by the US president, planned for later this year, had a couple of hundred signatures this morning. It now stands at over 300,000.The scale of opposition to Trump’s travel plan in the UK continues to grow. A petition to cancel a state visit by the US president, planned for later this year, had a couple of hundred signatures this morning. It now stands at over 300,000.
3.12pm GMT3.12pm GMT
15:1215:12
Trump has tweeted again citing the deaths of Christians in the Middle East as justification for his travel ban.Trump has tweeted again citing the deaths of Christians in the Middle East as justification for his travel ban.
Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!Christians in the Middle-East have been executed in large numbers. We cannot allow this horror to continue!
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.49pm GMTat 3.49pm GMT
3.02pm GMT3.02pm GMT
15:0215:02
Priebus went on to say: “Perhaps we need to take it further.”Priebus went on to say: “Perhaps we need to take it further.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 3.49pm GMTat 3.49pm GMT
3.00pm GMT
15:00
Political reaction is starting to gather pace in the US. Reuters has this:
White House chief of staff Reince Priebus defended its implementation of Trump’s executive action targeting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries and said only two dozen travellers remain detained.
“It wasn’t chaos,” Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” program, adding that 325,000 travelers entered the United States on Saturday and 109 of them were detained.
“Most of those people were moved out. We’ve got a couple dozen more that remain and I would suspect that as long as they’re not awful people that they will move through before another half a day today,” he said.
Updated
at 3.51pm GMT
2.47pm GMT
14:47
A bit more from Reuters on those comments from Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate majority leader.
The US Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said the United States needs to “be careful” while implementing President Donald Trump’s new executive order targeting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
McConnell said on ABC’s This Week program it was a good idea to tighten the vetting of immigrants, but “I also think it’s important to remember that some of our best sources in the war against radical Islamic terrorism, are Muslims, both in this country and overseas ... We need to be careful as we do this.”
Updated
at 3.56pm GMT
2.36pm GMT
14:36
According to Reuters, the Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, has just said “we need to be careful” while carrying out President Trump’s order.
Updated
at 3.56pm GMT
2.30pm GMT
14:30
According to CNN, Trump’s travel ban on people from seven mainly Muslim countries may be just the start.
It has just published a report that suggests the administration is considering asking all foreign visitors “to disclose all websites and social media sites they visit, and to share the contacts in their cell phones”.
Updated
at 3.56pm GMT
2.24pm GMT
14:24
That sense of confusion – and fear – is clear in some of the conversations my colleague Alice Ross has been having with people caught up in the US travel ban.
A Palestinian woman living in New York:
I’m an architect from the West Bank and I live in New York with my spouse, who holds American citizenship. I have my green card and planned to travel to Palestine this week to visit my family, who were very excited to see me. I also wanted to renew my passport, which is expiring soon.
After hearing about yesterday’s ban, we decided to cancel my flight until we have some clarity. It’s true that Palestine is not on the list of banned countries but the fact that the order is so random and vague makes the situation scary. I am afraid if I travel and they expand the order, I will be in limbo and I will be living apart from my spouse for an unknown period.
My family is so disappointed I’m not going home, and I don’t know what to do about my new passport. I’ve also lost money by cancelling the flight. Right now everything is so vague and unclear. If they go ahead with these orders it will make the US a big prison where so many people will hate living here. I’m just waiting and hoping for some clarity in the next few days, but I have no idea whether to just risk it and go to Palestine. It’s a mess.
And this from an employee at Dubai international airport gives a clear sense of the confusion among those trying to implement the ban:
We’ve had no written instructions yet from the US, at least not on the frontline, and the instructions that we have received don’t mention dual nationality or green cards – it’s very unclear what to do.
So some people are stopped while others are being given the benefit of the doubt, so if, for example, a passenger is Syrian holding a US passport we’re turning a blind eye, we’re pretending we haven’t seen the Syrian passport.
One passenger stuck in the airport here is a Syrian green card holder who was denied boarding. Her family, her job, her whole life is in the US and when she asks us when we will allow her to go home, none of us know what to say. Unfortunately because she’s Syrian it’s difficult for her to get a visa for Dubai and it’s difficult for her to go elsewhere.
At the moment her chances of getting into the US depends on which airport she goes to. If she’s landing in New York they’ll send her back, if it’s Houston they might accept her – what we’ve found is it really depends on which shift is operating, it’s not even a standard airport policy.
Last I heard they were trying any airport as long as she gets to US soil, and then at least once she’s there she can create a legal challenge or manage her way in instead of being stuck in Dubai.
Updated
at 3.58pm GMT
2.18pm GMT
14:18
According to this piece from CNN there was a sense of confusion and chaos when Trump announced his executive order, with homeland security officials being unaware of the detail of the plan.
When President Donald Trump declared at the Pentagon Friday he was enacting strict new measures to prevent domestic terror attacks, there were few within his government who knew exactly what he meant.
Administration officials weren’t immediately sure which countries’ citizens would be barred from entering the United States. The Department of Homeland Security was left making a legal analysis on the order after Trump signed it. A Border Patrol agent, confronted with arriving refugees, referred questions only to the president himself, according to court filings.
Updated
at 3.59pm GMT
2.03pm GMT
14:03
Afternoon summary
Donald Trump’s travel ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries has provoked widespread protest and condemnation around the world.
European leaders have expressed their opposition, saying it undermines the Geneva convention, weakens the US and boosts Islamic extremism.
In a tweet, Trump defended the move – aimed at people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya – saying the US needed “strong borders”.
In the UK, Theresa May has been criticised for her initial refusal to condemn the ban. The government has now said it opposes the move and will defend the rights of UK nationals.
However, May faces growing pressure to cancel a planned visit by the US president to the UK later this year.
The British Olympian Sir Mo Farrah – who was born in Somalia and moved to the UK when he was eight – has condemned the ban. He said the decision came from a place of “ignorance and prejudice” – adding that he will have to tell his children that he might not be able to come home to the US from his training camp in Ethiopia.
Updated
at 4.00pm GMT
1.47pm GMT
13:47
The global reaction to Trump’s travel ban continues. Our correspondent in Iraq Martin Chulov has just sent this:
Iraq’s government was being urged on Sunday to impose a reciprocal ban and said it was continuing to examine the ramifications of the visa decision. The foreign relations committee said it supported a similar ban on US citizens entering Iraq, while the Popular Mobilisation Units, an umbrella group of mainly Shia militias, called for the expulsion of US citizens currently in the country.
Iraqi refugees who have been accepted into the US in the past decade have all been subjected to extensive vetting, involving interviews and background checks. Many have worked for the US military or government.
There has been no official reaction to the announcement from Yemen, or Libya, which have each been ravaged by civil war and have no functioning central government.
Updated
at 4.04pm GMT
1.44pm GMT
13:44
The Muslim Council of Britain has issued a statement condemning the travel ban and calling for May to take a firmer stand against Trump:
Trump’s Muslim Ban: Time for our Government to Stand Up For British Values
29 January 2017
The Muslim Council of Britain condemns the executive order by US President Trump to initiate a ban on people from a select few Muslim majority countries.
It calls on our British government to speak out much more forcefully and stand up for the British values it supposedly seeks from others. For all intents and purposes this is a Muslim ban designed not to confront terrorism but to placate the most hateful sections of American society.
Those countries whose citizens were found to be involved in terrorism in the United States are not on Mr Trump’s list.
Harun Khan, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “This ban on Muslims is not only an inconvenience, it is downright dangerous to our values of equality and non-discrimination. We are told that British values include the rule of law and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.
“And yet, our prime minister has found it hard to express these values when representing us on the world stage. At the same time, the ban will affect us here in Britain, as those with dual nationality such as Sir Mo Farah and the Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi will also be affected by this ban.
“Our government should express in no uncertain terms how daft this policy is to its US counterparts, and press home how counter-productive it is in its professed fight to confront terrorism.
“In front of Mr Trump, the prime minister said that the point of the “special relationship” was to have a frank dialogue. Well, this is one area where we need to be frank about where we stand. As an important ally of the United States, surely we have a duty to remind them of the values on which they were founded upon.”
Updated
at 4.05pm GMT
1.39pm GMT
13:39
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