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Trump's Travel Ban May Also Touch Armenians

Daily Kos

The latest executive order of  US President Donald Trump has raised a wave of discontent not only inside, but also outside the country. To understand the issue, let’s consider what it is about. According  to the office of Press Secretary, "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States" is an executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017. The order, part of Trump's immigration-related campaign promises, suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days, after which the program will be conditionally resumed for individual countries.

The order also suspends entry, regardless of valid non-diplomatic visa,  by alien nationals of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, after which an updated list of prohibited countries will be determined. Further, the order suspends entry of refugees from Syria indefinitely. The order, however, establishes that exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Based on this exception, the Department of Homeland Security exempted lawful green card holders, citing national interest provisions in the executive order.

The purpose of the order, according to those who prepared it, is to protect Americans from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks in the United States and to prevent the admission of foreign nationals who intend to exploit United States immigration laws for malevolent purposes.

 Due to the executive order, “ the United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law.  In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including "honor" killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.”

As for the extent of this legal action, and how it will affect non-U.S. citizens, remains unclear.

Trump’s executive order has caused a sharp criticism by the international community.

The former head of European Parliament, chancellor candidate Martin Shulz, commenting on the latest executive orders, has accused US president Donald Trump in contempt of the core values of the West. 

The mayor of Madrid has compared President Donald Trump to Hitler over his travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and suspension of the arrival of Syrian refugees.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesperson Numan Kurtulmuşhas criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of a ban on the nationals of seven Muslim countries and called Washington to correct the "wrongful measure."

It should be said that Trump’s travel ban was not definitely accepted inside the country as well. US President fired the acting US attorney general after she told justice department lawyers not to defend his executive order banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries. As The Guardian reports, Sally Yates called Trump’s executive order- anticonstitutional.

Taking into consideration the existence of large Armenian community in America, as well as the flow of Armenians from the counties that Trump banned to America, this order has also raised concerns among Armenians. ANCA (The Armenian National Committee of America) issued a statement regarding the January 27, White House Executive Order on immigration. According to the ANCA’s statement, the travel ban has been applied to refugees and visa holders from these designated countries as well as to those with green cards who already have permanent residency or other legal status in the US. Besides that, in the statement there is mentioned, that the ban, initially in effect for a period of 90 days, may become permanent.

Being deeply concerned by the moral, legal and humanitarian implications of these new restrictions, ANCA emphasized that will act vigilantly to protect the human and legal rights of Armenians harmed by this executive order.


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