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US travel ban: Diplomats 'preparing dissent memo' US travel ban: Diplomats 'preparing dissent memo'
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Dozens of US diplomats around the world are set to formally criticise President Donald Trump's immigration restrictions, US media report.Dozens of US diplomats around the world are set to formally criticise President Donald Trump's immigration restrictions, US media report.
A "dissent cable" has been drafted for senior State Department officials, ABC News and the Associated Press say. A "dissent cable" has been drafted for senior state department officials.
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. The White House said those complaining should "get with the programme".
In the wake of Mr Trump's ban on nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries, ex-President Barack Obama has spoken out against discrimination "based on faith or religion".
In a statement his spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said Mr Obama was also "heartened" by the level of engagement taking place across the country.
'Get with it or go'
The draft text of the dissent cable seen by the BBC says that the immigration restrictions will not make the US safer and are un-American.
President Trump issued the restrictions on Friday.President Trump issued the 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.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. In other developments:
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. White House press secretary Sean Spicer has again defended the policy changes. At a press conference he hit out at the diplomats and foreign service officers drafting the dissent cable.
"Again, you talk about, in a 24-hour period, 325,000 people from other countries flew in through our airports and we're talking about 109 people from seven countries that the Obama administration identified," he told reporters.
"And these career bureaucrats have a problem with it? I think they should either get with the programme or they can go."
News of the complaint from US diplomats comes amid international 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 help in the fight against terrorism.The cable seen by the BBC says the "knee-jerk" restrictions will "sour relations" with the Muslim world and alienate countries that help 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.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 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 goodwill 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 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.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. 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.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.
Mr Obama's statement is the first he has released since leaving the White House.
"Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organise and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake," it says.
He had earlier said that he may speak out after leaving office if he felt Mr Trump was threatening core American values.
By convention, former presidents tend to leave the political fray and avoid commenting on their successors.
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.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 parliament in Iraq 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.
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 have criticised the restrictions.
Trump ban sparks Middle East angerTrump ban sparks Middle East anger
In a tweet, Donald Trump defended his move, saying there were "a lot of 'bad dudes' out there". UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein said the ban was "mean-spirited and wastes resources needed for proper counter-terrorism".
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".
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.
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. Although the White House says only 109 people have 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.
In the UK, more than a million people have signed a petition to stop Donald Trump's planned state visit later this year. Protests have taken place in London and other cities. In the UK, more than a million people have signed a petition to stop Donald Trump's planned state visit later this year.
Who is affected by the ban? Protests have taken place in London and other cities.
As well as the ban on all refugees, travellers who have nationality or dual nationality 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.
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.
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.
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.
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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