It means people without close family or business relationships in the US could be denied visas and barred entry.
Who is affected?
- According to the new rules, for the next 90 days those from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen without a close family, business or study relationship will not be able to enter the US
- Close relationships include: Parents, spouses, children, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, siblings including step or half siblings.
- Not included: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and grandchildren.
- Also exempt from the new rules are those with business or educational ties to the US.
- The relationships must be formal, documented and not formed for the purpose of evading the order.
- Those who already hold valid visas are not affected. Dual nationals who travel on their passport from the unaffected country will also be allowed entry.
- The court also approved a 120-day ban on refugees entering the US, allowing the government to bar entry to refugee claimants who cannot prove the same ties to an American individual or entity.
- Moments before the ban began at 8pm Washington time (midday in New Zealand), it emerged the state of Hawaii had asked a federal judge for clarification.
- It has in the past accused the US government of violating the Supreme Court's instructions by improperly excluding people.
- The Supreme Court partially upheld the ban earlier this week, while voting to hear the case in October.
- The decision lifted injunctions that since February had halted one of the president's key election policies.
- The court ruled that people seeking visas to travel to the US from the six restricted countries, and all refugees, would have to prove a "bona fide relationship" to someone in the country.
- The Supreme Court is expected to make a final decision on the ban in October.
Photo: AFP Recent Immingrants join activists for an evening protest in Manhattan in the hours before the revised version of President Donald Trump's travel ban came into effect.
Source:
Radio New Zealand