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US travel ban: Concern grows as White House stands firm US travel ban: Diplomats 'preparing dissent memo'
(about 2 hours later)
Global condemnation of a new US travel ban on immigration from seven countries is growing, as President Donald Trump faces fresh protests at home. Dozens of US diplomats around the world are set to formally criticise President Trump's controversial immigration restrictions, US media report.
A "dissent cable" has been drafted for senior State Department officials, ABC News and the Associated Press say.
Draft text seen by the BBC says that the ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries will not make the US safer and is un-American.
President Trump issued the new restrictions on Friday.
His executive order halted the entire US refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banned Syrian refugees and suspended all nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The list does not include Saudi Arabia, where most of the hijackers in the 9/11 attacks came from.
News of the complaint from US diplomats comes amid a global chorus of condemnation of the new policies. The White House has defended the restrictions as necessary safety measures.
The cable seen by the BBC says the "knee-jerk" restrictions will "sour relations" with the Muslim world and alienate countries that assist in the fight against terrorism.
It notes that most terror attacks in the US have been committed by US-born or naturalised citizens and compares the new measures to restrictions on Japanese-Americans during World War Two.
"The end result of this ban will not be a drop in terror attacks in the United States; rather, it will be a drop in international good will towards Americans and a threat towards our economy," the cable, which may be an earlier draft, says.
The White House has said the new rules do not equate to a ban on Muslims entering the US and that the restrictions will be lifted once new security measures are put in place.
The cable, signed by dozens of diplomats, is expected to be formally sent later on Monday through what is called the "dissent channel", the Associated Press reports, quoting anonymous US officials.
According to ABC News, the dissent channel was created during the Vietnam War to allow diplomats in the field to convey concerns to senior State Department officials in Washington.
Last year more than 50 diplomats used the channel to express concern over US policy in Syria to the Obama administration, the New York Times reports.
Foreign leaders have been hitting out at the ban, which has caused chaos at airports in the US and created confusion for thousands of people travelling to the country.
The European Union said it would never choose isolation and inequality over openness and social equality.The European Union said it would never choose isolation and inequality over openness and social equality.
The parliament in Iraq, one of the seven nations, passed a motion calling for reciprocal action to be taken.The parliament in Iraq, one of the seven nations, passed a motion calling for reciprocal action to be taken.
Amid widespread confusion, the White House has defended the restrictions as necessary safety measures. The foreign ministry called for the White House to review its decision, noting it is an "allied state linked by strategic partnership with the United States".
The Trump administration says they do not amount to a ban on Muslims and they will be lifted once new security procedures are put into place. Yemen, Iran and Sudan have criticised the restrictions.
In a tweet, Donald Trump said there were "a lot of 'bad dudes' out there". He said that if a week of advance notice was given "the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week". Trump ban sparks Middle East anger
In a tweet, Donald Trump defended his move, saying there were "a lot of 'bad dudes' out there".
Some European politicians, including Czech President Milos Zeman and Dutch anti-immigration firebrand Geert Wilders, have praised the ban.
But UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said that the ban was "mean-spirited and wastes resources needed for proper counter-terrorism".But UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said that the ban was "mean-spirited and wastes resources needed for proper counter-terrorism".
Mr Trump's executive order halted the entire US refugee programme for 120 days, indefinitely banned Syrian refugees and suspended all nationals from the seven, Muslim-majority, countries.
The list does not include Saudi Arabia, where most of the hijackers in the 9/11 attacks came from.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 member states, said the restrictions would only help extremists.The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 member states, said the restrictions would only help extremists.
Countries including Britain and Germany have sought assurances that their citizens with dual nationality will be protected.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised the restrictions again on Monday, saying the fight against terrorism does not justify "general suspicion against people of a specific faith".
Some European politicians, including Czech President Milos Zeman and Dutch anti-immigration firebrand Geert Wilders, have praised the ban.
In the US, 16 state attorneys general have said the order is unconstitutional. Several federal judges have temporarily halted the deportation of visa holders.
Three African countries - Somalia, Sudan and Libya - are on the banned list and as a result the African Union (AU) was facing one of its "greatest tests", AU commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has said.Three African countries - Somalia, Sudan and Libya - are on the banned list and as a result the African Union (AU) was facing one of its "greatest tests", AU commission chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has said.
Speaking at the pan-African body's annual summit in Ethiopia, she said the world was entering "very turbulent times": In the UK, more than a million people have signed a petition to stop Donald Trump's planned state visit later this year. Protests are taking place in London and other cities.
"For example, the very country to whom our people were taken as slaves during the transatlantic slave trade, has now decided to ban refugees from some of our countries," Ms Dlamini-Zuma said.
Trump ban sparks Middle East anger
In Iraq, the government is facing calls from lawmakers to enact a reciprocal ban on US citizens.
The foreign ministry called for the White House to review its decision, noting it is an "allied state linked by strategic partnership with the United States".
Yemen, Iran and Sudan - all on the list - have also criticised the restrictions.
In the UK, more than a million people have signed a petition to stop Donald Trump's planned state visit later this year. Protests in response to the executive order are set to take place in several cities later.
Who is affected by the ban?Who is affected by the ban?
As well as the ban on all refugees, travellers who have nationality or dual nationality of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are not permitted to enter the US for 90 days, or be issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa. As well as the ban on all refugees, travellers who have nationality or dual nationality of are not permitted to enter the US for 90 days, or be issued an immigrant or non-immigrant visa.
This includes those who share dual nationality with allied countries, including the UK, though there remains much confusion.This includes those who share dual nationality with allied countries, including the UK, though there remains much confusion.
The UK Foreign Office says that only those dual nationals travelling from one of the blacklisted seven countries would be subject to extra checks.The UK Foreign Office says that only those dual nationals travelling from one of the blacklisted seven countries would be subject to extra checks.
But there have been several reports contradicting that. BBC reporter Ali Hamedani, an Iranian-born British citizen, was detained and had his phone searched when he flew into Chicago from London.But there have been several reports contradicting that. BBC reporter Ali Hamedani, an Iranian-born British citizen, was detained and had his phone searched when he flew into Chicago from London.
Some US Green Card holders - legal residents - have been detained since the order came into effect but they are now exempt from the ban, according to the Department of Homeland Security.Some US Green Card holders - legal residents - have been detained since the order came into effect but they are now exempt from the ban, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
What does the White House say? Mr Trump has said "only 109 people out of 325,000" travelling, had been detained for extra questioning, but a Department of Homeland Security official told ABC News there were 735 "encounters" related to the executive order as of Sunday evening.
Mr Trump tweeted early on Sunday that the US needed "extreme vetting, NOW" but later, in a statement, tried to offer more reassuring words, saying: "This is not about religion - this is about terror and keeping our country safe.
"We will again be issuing visas to all countries once we are sure we have reviewed and implemented the most secure policies over the next 90 days," he said.
In a tweet on Monday morning, Mr Trump placed the blame for any perceived chaos at the airports on protesters, "the tears of Senator [Chuck] Schumer" and Delta Airlines, which had a computer issue on Sunday which led to the cancellation of 170 flights, and another 110 on Monday.
Delta operates more than 5,400 flights a day.
Mr Trump also said "only 109 people out of 325,000" travelling, had been detained for extra questioning.
A Department of Homeland Security official told ABC News there were 735 "encounters" related to the executive order as of Sunday evening.
But senior Republicans have been critical.
The Republican chair of the US Senate Foreign Relations committee, Senator Bob Corker, said the executive order had been "poorly implemented", particularly for Green Card holders, and the "administration should make appropriate revisions".
Amateur hour at the White House?
Mr Schumer said the US now appeared "less humanitarian, less safe, less American" and that the Democrats would introduce legislation to overturn it.
In other global reaction:
Have you or your family been affected by the entry restrictions? Have you been detained at an airport following the travel ban? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you or your family been affected by the entry restrictions? Have you been detained at an airport following the travel ban? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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