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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)
2.36pm GMT
14:36
According to Reuters, Republican senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has just said “we need to be careful” while carrying out president Trump’s order.
2.30pm GMT
14:30
According to CNN Trump’s travel ban on people from seven mainly Muslim countries maybe just the start.
It has just published a report which 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.”
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 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 of Emirates at Dubai 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.
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.
2.03pm GMT2.03pm GMT
14:0314:03
Afternoon summaryAfternoon summary
Donald Trump’s travel ban on people from seven muslim majority countries has provoked widespread protest and condemnation around the world.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.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, Libya - saying US needed “strong borders.”In a Tweet Trump defended the move - aimed at people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Libya - saying US needed “strong borders.”
In the UK prime minister 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.In the UK prime minister 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.However May faces growing pressure to cancel a planned visit by the US president to the UK later this year.
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 he will have to tell his kids that he might not be able to come home to the US from his training camp in Ethiopia.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 he will have to tell his kids that he might not be able to come home to the US from his training camp in Ethiopia.
1.47pm GMT1.47pm GMT
13:4713:47
The global reaction to Trump’s travel ban continues. Our correspondent in Iraq Martin Chulov has just sent this: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 Committees, an umbrella group of mainly Shia militias, called for the expulsion of US citizens currently in the country.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 Committees, 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.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.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 2.33pm GMT
1.44pm GMT1.44pm GMT
13:4413:44
The Muslim Council of Britain has issued a statement condemning the travel ban and calling for May to take a firmer stand against Trump.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 ValuesTrump’s Muslim Ban: Time for our Government to Stand Up For British Values
29 January 201729 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.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.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.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.’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 Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi will also be affected by this ban.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 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.”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.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.
1.39pm GMT1.39pm GMT
13:3913:39
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1.37pm GMT1.37pm GMT
13:3713:37
London mayor Sadiq Khan has added his voice to the growing calls for Trump’s visit to UK in the summer to be cancelled. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has added his voice to the growing calls for Trump’s visit to UK in the summer to be cancelled.
He reiterated his condemnation of the US travel ban on muslims from seven countries and said the UK should not be rolling out the “red carpet” while it remains in place. He reiterated his condemnation of the US travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and said the UK should not be rolling out the “red carpet” while it remains in place.
He also suggested he would boycott the event if it did go ahead.He also suggested he would boycott the event if it did go ahead.
Updated
at 2.17pm GMT
1.18pm GMT1.18pm GMT
13:1813:18
Trump is awake and tweeting a defence of his controversial travel ban.Trump is awake and tweeting a defence of his controversial travel ban.
Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!Our country needs strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW. Look what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world - a horrible mess!
12.50pm GMT12.50pm GMT
12:5012:50
PA has issued a fuller statement from Mo Farah in which he says Trump’s ban made him “an alien”. The Somalia-born four-time Olympic champion who lives and trains in the US, said: PA has issued a fuller statement from Mo Farah in which he says Trump’s ban made him “an alien”. The Somalia-born four-time Olympic champion, who lives and trains in the US, said:
On 1 January this year, Her Majesty the Queen made me a knight of the realm. On 27 January, President Donald Trump seems to have made me an alien.On 1 January this year, Her Majesty the Queen made me a knight of the realm. On 27 January, President Donald Trump seems to have made me an alien.
I am a British citizen who has lived in America for the past six years – working hard, contributing to society, paying my taxes and bringing up our four children in the place they now call home.I am a British citizen who has lived in America for the past six years – working hard, contributing to society, paying my taxes and bringing up our four children in the place they now call home.
Now, me and many others like me are being told that we may not be welcome.Now, me and many others like me are being told that we may not be welcome.
It’s deeply troubling that I will have to tell my children that daddy might not be able to come home – to explain why the president has introduced a policy that comes from a place of ignorance and prejudice.It’s deeply troubling that I will have to tell my children that daddy might not be able to come home – to explain why the president has introduced a policy that comes from a place of ignorance and prejudice.
I was welcomed into Britain from Somalia at eight years old and given the chance to succeed and realise my dreams.I was welcomed into Britain from Somalia at eight years old and given the chance to succeed and realise my dreams.
I have been proud to represent my country, win medals for the British people and receive the greatest honour of a knighthood.I have been proud to represent my country, win medals for the British people and receive the greatest honour of a knighthood.
My story is an example of what can happen when you follow polices of compassion and understanding, not hate and isolation.My story is an example of what can happen when you follow polices of compassion and understanding, not hate and isolation.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.18pm GMT at 2.20pm GMT
12.46pm GMT12.46pm GMT
12:4612:46
No 10 has insisted that Trump’s state visit in the summer will go ahead despite growing calls for it to be cancelled in light of his travel ban for people from several Muslim-majority countries.No 10 has insisted that Trump’s state visit in the summer will go ahead despite growing calls for it to be cancelled in light of his travel ban for people from several Muslim-majority countries.
NEW: No.10 insistent that plans for UK #StateVisit by @realDonaldTrump remain in place despite calls for it to be postponed or cancelled.NEW: No.10 insistent that plans for UK #StateVisit by @realDonaldTrump remain in place despite calls for it to be postponed or cancelled.
Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron have called for it to be cancelled and a petition supporting the move, which had a few hundred signatures this morning, has now topped 100,000.Jeremy Corbyn and Tim Farron have called for it to be cancelled and a petition supporting the move, which had a few hundred signatures this morning, has now topped 100,000.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.16pm GMTat 1.16pm GMT
12.39pm GMT12.39pm GMT
12:3912:39
Sir Mo Farah, one of the UK’s most successful athletes has just issued a statement condemning Trump’s travel ban. Sir Mo Farah, one of the UK’s most successful athletes, has just issued a statement condemning Trump’s travel ban.
I am a British citizen who has lived in America for the past six years – working hard, contributing to society, paying my taxes and bringing up our four children in the place they now call home.I am a British citizen who has lived in America for the past six years – working hard, contributing to society, paying my taxes and bringing up our four children in the place they now call home.
Now, me and many others like me are being told that we may not be welcome. It’s deeply troubling that I will have to tell my children that Daddy might not be able to come home - to explain why the president has introduced a policy that comes from a place of ignorance and prejudice. Now, me and many others like me are being told that we may not be welcome. It’s deeply troubling that I will have to tell my children that daddy might not be able to come home – to explain why the president has introduced a policy that comes from a place of ignorance and prejudice.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.18pm GMT at 2.22pm GMT
12.26pm GMT12.26pm GMT
12:2612:26
My colleague Nicola Slawson reported on Saturday about the plight of an Iranian-born Glasgow vet after she was left stranded in Costa Rica following Trump’s executive order. Since then members of the public have raised thousands of pounds to help her.My colleague Nicola Slawson reported on Saturday about the plight of an Iranian-born Glasgow vet after she was left stranded in Costa Rica following Trump’s executive order. Since then members of the public have raised thousands of pounds to help her.
Here is Nicola’s updated story:Here is Nicola’s updated story:
Thousands of pounds has been raised for an Iranian-born Glasgow vet after she was left stranded in Costa Rica following Trump’s executive order.Thousands of pounds has been raised for an Iranian-born Glasgow vet after she was left stranded in Costa Rica following Trump’s executive order.
Hamaseh Tayari’s flight home from her holiday required her to change flights in New York meaning she would need a transit visa, which was revoked in light of the “Muslim ban” because of her Iranian passport. Hamaseh Tayari’s flight home from her holiday required her to change flights in New York, meaning she would need a transit visa, which was revoked in light of the travel ban because of her Iranian passport.
Tayari, who grew up in Italy, yesterday told the Guardian: “I am destroyed. I did not know that I could cry for so long. It feels like the beginning of the end. How this is possible?” Tayari, who grew up in Italy, told the Guardian: “I am destroyed. I did not know that I could cry for so long. It feels like the beginning of the end. How this is possible?”
A group of Scottish women lead by Kathleen Caskie from the the Women for Independence campaign group, banded together to set up a Go Fund Me page to raise enough money for her new flight home. A group of Scottish women lead by Kathleen Caskie, from the the Women for Independence campaign group, banded together to set up a Go Fund Me page to raise enough money for her new flight home.
Caskie said: “Firstly, she works in Glasgow, so therefore is now Glaswegian, and you don’t cross Glaswegians, and secondly, we hate Trump and, finally, our reach is such that we could raise the money by midnight tonight if she needs it.”Caskie said: “Firstly, she works in Glasgow, so therefore is now Glaswegian, and you don’t cross Glaswegians, and secondly, we hate Trump and, finally, our reach is such that we could raise the money by midnight tonight if she needs it.”
In the end, the cost of the flights, £2,600, was raised in less than 33 minutes. Nearly £5,000 has now been raised and all extra money will be donated to the Scottish Council for Refugees “in further protest against Trump’s policies”.In the end, the cost of the flights, £2,600, was raised in less than 33 minutes. Nearly £5,000 has now been raised and all extra money will be donated to the Scottish Council for Refugees “in further protest against Trump’s policies”.
On hearing the news, Tayari, who said the cost of the new flight was more than her whole month’s wages, said: “My God! This is amazing. I was not expecting this.”On hearing the news, Tayari, who said the cost of the new flight was more than her whole month’s wages, said: “My God! This is amazing. I was not expecting this.”
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.27pm GMT at 2.32pm GMT
12.07pm GMT12.07pm GMT
12:0712:07
Is this a hardening of the UK line from Boris Johnson? It certainly seems to go further than either May and David Gauke this morning calling Trump’s travel ban “divisive and wrong.” Is this a hardening of the UK line from Boris Johnson? It certainly seems to go further than either May and David Gauke this morning, calling Trump’s travel ban “divisive and wrong”.
We will protect the rights and freedoms of UK nationals home and abroad. Divisive and wrong to stigmatise because of nationalityWe will protect the rights and freedoms of UK nationals home and abroad. Divisive and wrong to stigmatise because of nationality
Updated
at 2.28pm GMT
12.03pm GMT12.03pm GMT
12:0312:03
This is from Philip Oltermann, the Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, with a few more details of a phone call between Merkel and Trump on Saturday. This is from Philip Oltermann, the Guardian’s Berlin bureau chief, with a few more details of a phone call between Angela Merkel and Donald Trump on Saturday.
A spokesperson for Angela Merkel said on Sunday that she “regrets” Donald Trump’s decision to ban citizens of certain countries from entering the country, and that the German chancellor had “explained” the obligations of the Geneva refugee convention to the US president in a phone call on Saturday.A spokesperson for Angela Merkel said on Sunday that she “regrets” Donald Trump’s decision to ban citizens of certain countries from entering the country, and that the German chancellor had “explained” the obligations of the Geneva refugee convention to the US president in a phone call on Saturday.
“The chancellor regrets the US government’s entry ban against refugees and the citizens of certain countries”, Merkel’s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement. “She is convinced that the necessary, decisive battle against terrorism does not justify a general suspicion against people of a certain origin or a certain religion”.“The chancellor regrets the US government’s entry ban against refugees and the citizens of certain countries”, Merkel’s spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement. “She is convinced that the necessary, decisive battle against terrorism does not justify a general suspicion against people of a certain origin or a certain religion”.
“The Geneva refugee convention requires the international community to take in war refugees on humanitarian grounds. All signatory states are obligated to do. The German government explained this policy in their call yesterday.”“The Geneva refugee convention requires the international community to take in war refugees on humanitarian grounds. All signatory states are obligated to do. The German government explained this policy in their call yesterday.”
Seibert further said that the German government would examine what consequences the ban would have for German citizens with dual citizenship, and would “represent their interests, if necessary, before our American partners”.Seibert further said that the German government would examine what consequences the ban would have for German citizens with dual citizenship, and would “represent their interests, if necessary, before our American partners”.
A summary of the phone call between Merkel and Trump, jointly issued to the press on Saturday, had made no mention of the entry ban, emphasising merely the “fundamental significance” of Nato and the intention to “further deepen the already excellent bilateral relations in the coming years”. A summary of the phone call between Merkel and Trump, jointly issued to the press on Saturday, had made no mention of the travel ban, emphasising merely the “fundamental significance” of Nato and the intention to “further deepen the already excellent bilateral relations in the coming years”.
One of the German citizens apparently already affected has a seat in the German parliament. Omid Nouripour, a Green Party MP with German-Iranian citizenship, is reported to be one of ten thousands of German citizens believed to be banned from entering the US under new rules. Nouripour is the vice chair of the German parliament’s American-German group and a member of the steering committee of Germany’s Atlantic Bridge programme. One of the German citizens apparently already affected has a seat in the German parliament. Omid Nouripour, a Green Party MP with German-Iranian citizenship, is reported to be among tens of thousands of German citizens believed to be banned from entering the US under the travel ban. Nouripour is the vice-chair of the German parliament’s American-German group and a member of the steering committee of Germany’s Atlantic Bridge programme.
UpdatedUpdated
at 12.38pm GMT at 2.31pm GMT
11.56am GMT11.56am GMT
11:5611:56
Google co-founder Sergey Brin joined the protests at US airports on Saturday. He said he was there because “I’m a refugee.”Google co-founder Sergey Brin joined the protests at US airports on Saturday. He said he was there because “I’m a refugee.”
Sergey Brin was straight up teaching an infant how to protest. pic.twitter.com/VZEcXiAQe4Sergey Brin was straight up teaching an infant how to protest. pic.twitter.com/VZEcXiAQe4
11.53am GMT11.53am GMT
11:5311:53
It seems that many within the Republican Party are unhappy with Trump’s latest move too. It seems that many within the Republican party are unhappy with Trump’s latest move, too.
My colleague Richard Adams has flagged up this piece from The Hill which reports several senior senators have come out against the move. My colleague Richard Adams has flagged up this piece from The Hill, which reports several senior senators have come out against the move.
GOP lawmakers are stepping out against President Trump’s executive order barring many refugees and citizens of certain predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.GOP lawmakers are stepping out against President Trump’s executive order barring many refugees and citizens of certain predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called the order “unacceptable” amid concerns that it would prevent legal permanent residents from entering the U.S., which the administration attempted to clarify on Saturday.Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) called the order “unacceptable” amid concerns that it would prevent legal permanent residents from entering the U.S., which the administration attempted to clarify on Saturday.
“President Trump and his administration are right to be concerned about national security, but it’s unacceptable when even legal permanent residents are being detained or turned away at airports and ports of entry,” Flake said in a statement.“President Trump and his administration are right to be concerned about national security, but it’s unacceptable when even legal permanent residents are being detained or turned away at airports and ports of entry,” Flake said in a statement.
“Enhancing long term national security requires that we have a clear-eyed view of radical Islamic terrorism without ascribing radical Islamic terrorist views to all Muslims,” Flake added.“Enhancing long term national security requires that we have a clear-eyed view of radical Islamic terrorism without ascribing radical Islamic terrorist views to all Muslims,” Flake added.
Updated
at 2.35pm GMT