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Visa Ban Said to Touch as Many as 100,000, Far More Than Known Visa Ban Touches Far More People Than First Thought
(35 minutes later)
A lawyer for the United States government said in federal court in Virginia on Friday that more than 100,000 visas had been revoked as part of President Trump’s policy halting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, a move a judge said was causing “chaos,” a lawyer for the plaintiff said.A lawyer for the United States government said in federal court in Virginia on Friday that more than 100,000 visas had been revoked as part of President Trump’s policy halting travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries, a move a judge said was causing “chaos,” a lawyer for the plaintiff said.
While protesters have focused on the executive order stopping foreigners from entering the country, a State Department memorandum that was not initially released publicly went much further, canceling at least temporarily almost all visas from the seven countries. The New York Times reported Thursday that tens of thousands of these visas, for foreigners inside and outside the United States, had been revoked without any notice to the visa holders. Had any of them left the United States, they would have most likely lost the ability to return. While protesters have focused on the executive order stopping foreigners from entering the country, a State Department memo that was not initially released publicly went much further, canceling at least temporarily almost all visas from the seven countries. The New York Times reported on Thursday that tens of thousands of these visas, for foreigners inside and outside the United States, had been revoked without any notice to the visa holders. Had any of them left the United States, they would have most likely lost the ability to return.
The 100,000 figure cited in court on Friday represented the first time the government had quantified the number of revoked visas. After the hearing, however, a State Department official provided a lower number, saying it was “fewer than 60,000.”The 100,000 figure cited in court on Friday represented the first time the government had quantified the number of revoked visas. After the hearing, however, a State Department official provided a lower number, saying it was “fewer than 60,000.”
“To put that number in context, we issued over 11 million immigrant and nonimmigrant visas in fiscal year 2015,” said the official, William Cocks, a spokesman for the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs. “As always, national security is our top priority when issuing visas.” “To put that number in context, we issued over 11 million immigrant and nonimmigrant visas in fiscal year 2015,” said the official, William Cocks, a spokesman for the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the State Department. “As always, national security is our top priority when issuing visas.”
In either case, the figures demonstrated how many more people were affected than just those detained or deported amid the confusion at American airports over the weekend.In either case, the figures demonstrated how many more people were affected than just those detained or deported amid the confusion at American airports over the weekend.
“You could hear the gasps in the courtroom when he said that,” said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, legal director of the Immigrant Advocacy Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center. He is a lawyer for the plaintiffs, two Yemeni brothers who said they had been coerced into signing away their rights to enter the country while in custody at Dulles Airport. “You could hear the gasps in the courtroom when he said that,” said Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, legal director of the Immigrant Advocacy Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center. He is a lawyer for the plaintiffs, two Yemeni brothers who said they had been coerced into signing away their rights to enter the country while in custody at Dulles International Airport outside Washington.
“It’s more than 100,000 lives turned upside down,” said Mr. Sandoval-Moshenberg. “For every person not being allowed into the United States right now there are family members and other people affected by that.” “It’s more than 100,000 lives turned upside down,” said Mr. Sandoval-Moshenberg. “For every person not being allowed into the United States right now, there are family members and other people affected by that.”
The judge in the case, Leonie M. Brinkema of Federal District Court in Alexandria, described the Trump administration’s handling of the executive order as causing “chaos,” the lawyer said. The administration has been criticized for issuing its order without any warning to refugees and visa holders who were on their way to the United States. Some arrived at airports for flights and were turned away.The judge in the case, Leonie M. Brinkema of Federal District Court in Alexandria, described the Trump administration’s handling of the executive order as causing “chaos,” the lawyer said. The administration has been criticized for issuing its order without any warning to refugees and visa holders who were on their way to the United States. Some arrived at airports for flights and were turned away.
“This order touched something in the U.S. that I’ve never seen before,” Judge Brinkema said, according to The Associated Press. “People are quite upset.”“This order touched something in the U.S. that I’ve never seen before,” Judge Brinkema said, according to The Associated Press. “People are quite upset.”
The order barred immigration for 90 days from seven majority-Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It suspended the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely and all other refugees for 120 days. The president said the pause was needed so the government can evaluate its vetting procedures to protect against terrorism. The order banned immigration for 90 days from seven majority-Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It suspended the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely and all other refugees for 120 days. The president said the pause was needed so the government could evaluate its vetting procedures to protect against terrorism.