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Ministers 'complacent over US travel ban' as more UK claims emerge Ministers 'complacent over US travel ban' as more UK claims emerge
(35 minutes later)
Ministers have been accused of complacency over Donald Trump’s travel ban after claims emerged that British nationals are among those who have been barred from entering the US, despite the foreign secretary Boris Johnson’s claim to have secured an exemption for UK passport holders. Ministers have been accused of complacency over Donald Trump’s travel ban after claims emerged that British nationals are among those who have been barred from entering the US, despite Boris Johnson’s claim to have secured an exemption for UK passport holders.
The shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, said the government’s deal with the White House was not being applied properly after an Iranian-born British man, Reza Hamidi, told the Guardian his US visa was revoked as a result of the president’s executive order.The shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, said the government’s deal with the White House was not being applied properly after an Iranian-born British man, Reza Hamidi, told the Guardian his US visa was revoked as a result of the president’s executive order.
His case followed that of a British cardiologist, Dr Abtehale Al-Hussaini, who said she had been stopped at Heathrow airport as she tried travel to Washington DC for a conference. Speaking to Channel 4 News on Thursday, she said officials told her that an Iraqi visa in her passport was sufficient grounds to ban her under the US president’s order. His case followed that of a British cardiologist, Dr Abtehale Al-Hussaini, who said she had been stopped at Heathrow airport as she tried to travel to Washington DC for a conference. Speaking to Channel 4 News on Thursday, she said officials told her an Iraqi visa in her passport was sufficient grounds to ban her under the US president’s order.
Hamidi planned to travel to Washington in April with his wife, Evelyn, but the family said he was told on Monday that his 10-year US visa had been revoked for the duration of Trump’s 90-day travel ban.Hamidi planned to travel to Washington in April with his wife, Evelyn, but the family said he was told on Monday that his 10-year US visa had been revoked for the duration of Trump’s 90-day travel ban.
He said he has not visited his country of birth, which is one of the seven Muslim-majority countries on the banned list, since 1999 and that, to his knowledge, there was no other valid reason to revoke his visa.He said he has not visited his country of birth, which is one of the seven Muslim-majority countries on the banned list, since 1999 and that, to his knowledge, there was no other valid reason to revoke his visa.
“It was just a whole day of going back and forth, wondering what we are going to do with money and are we going,” he said.“It was just a whole day of going back and forth, wondering what we are going to do with money and are we going,” he said.
“But I thought, ‘You know what? Even if they say I can travel, I just don’t want to go any more.’ I thought about asking someone to remove the visa endorsement from my passport because it is just a bad memory for me … I feel unwelcome and I don’t like to go somewhere I am unwelcome.”“But I thought, ‘You know what? Even if they say I can travel, I just don’t want to go any more.’ I thought about asking someone to remove the visa endorsement from my passport because it is just a bad memory for me … I feel unwelcome and I don’t like to go somewhere I am unwelcome.”
Hamidi said US officials had also refused to put the decision down in writing, making it difficult for him to get a refund for his flights.Hamidi said US officials had also refused to put the decision down in writing, making it difficult for him to get a refund for his flights.
Thornberry said she had seen another case in her own constituency of a British citizen with dual nationality being caught up by the ban. Thornberry said she had seen another case in her own constituency of a British citizen with dual nationality being caught up in the ban.
Hussaini expressed her disgust at being prevented from travelling. She said last week that she felt US officials had singled her out because of her name. “It made them very cautious about who I am, despite the fact that I’m a British citizen. The only passport I hold is a British passport, I have no other nationality,” she told Channel 4 News.Hussaini expressed her disgust at being prevented from travelling. She said last week that she felt US officials had singled her out because of her name. “It made them very cautious about who I am, despite the fact that I’m a British citizen. The only passport I hold is a British passport, I have no other nationality,” she told Channel 4 News.
“I travel to America almost once a year, my last entry was in January of last year with exactly the same passport – exactly the same credentials, nothing has changed.”“I travel to America almost once a year, my last entry was in January of last year with exactly the same passport – exactly the same credentials, nothing has changed.”
She said officials at the airport indicated that the was being stopped under Trump’s travel ban because of the Iraqi visa she had.She said officials at the airport indicated that the was being stopped under Trump’s travel ban because of the Iraqi visa she had.
Thornberry said: “As I know from my own constituency, these are not just isolated cases.” Her staff indicated they could not release details of the further case for confidentiality reasons.Thornberry said: “As I know from my own constituency, these are not just isolated cases.” Her staff indicated they could not release details of the further case for confidentiality reasons.
Johnson last week told the Commons he had secured a deal with the White House that exempted all UK citizens with dual nationality from being covered by the executive order, unless they were travelling to the US from one of the seven banned countries. Johnson, the foreign secretary, last week told the Commons he had secured a deal with the White House that exempted all UK citizens with dual nationality from being covered by the executive order, unless they were travelling to the US from one of the seven banned countries.
That claim was thrown into immediate confusion the same day, when the US embassy in London issued guidance that appeared to contradict him. Downing Street, however, has insisted that the deal remains valid. That claim was thrown into immediate confusion the same day, when the US embassy in London issued guidance that appeared to contradict him. Downing Street, however, has insisted the deal remains valid.
Thornberry accused ministers of a “clear failure to ensure that whatever exemption has been agreed between the UK government and the White House is being communicated properly to all staff, and applied consistently”.Thornberry accused ministers of a “clear failure to ensure that whatever exemption has been agreed between the UK government and the White House is being communicated properly to all staff, and applied consistently”.
She said: “The government must immediately establish a fast-track process to allow individuals in these circumstances to get their case raised by the Foreign Office and resolved as soon as possible. Their failure to do so is just another example of how slow-footed and complacent the government has been in responding to this executive order.”She said: “The government must immediately establish a fast-track process to allow individuals in these circumstances to get their case raised by the Foreign Office and resolved as soon as possible. Their failure to do so is just another example of how slow-footed and complacent the government has been in responding to this executive order.”
A lawyer for the US Department of Justice lawyer told a federal court on Friday that more than 100,000 visas had been revoked since Trump signed the travel ban order. The US State Department later said fewer than 60,000 visas had been cancelled under the ban, while the higher figure included diplomatic and other visas exempt under the travel ban, as well as expired visas. A lawyer for the US Department of Justice told a federal court on Friday that more than 100,000 visas had been revoked since Trump signed the travel ban order. The US State Department later said fewer than 60,000 visas had been cancelled under the ban, while the higher figure included diplomatic and other visas exempt under the travel ban, as well as expired visas.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it had not been contacted by the people in question, though officials were “ready to offer assistance if requested”. A spokeswoman said: “British passport holders should refer to FCO travel advice for more information on US visas and immigration or contact the nearest British embassy or consulate.”The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it had not been contacted by the people in question, though officials were “ready to offer assistance if requested”. A spokeswoman said: “British passport holders should refer to FCO travel advice for more information on US visas and immigration or contact the nearest British embassy or consulate.”
The US Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.The US Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.