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| Donald Trump anti-refugee order: 'green-card holders included in ban' – live | Donald Trump anti-refugee order: 'green-card holders included in ban' – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.14pm GMT | |
| 18:14 | |
| Final summary | |
| Donald Trump’s executive order to close America’s borders to refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries has been swiftly enforced. The order blocks to the US from citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya for 90 days and as well as indefinitely suspending admission of Syrian refugees. | |
| The 45th president of the US also had a big day as he took phone calls from major world leaders including the Russian president Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile Theresa May has met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and a joint press conference was held. | |
| Here’s a round up of the key events of the day: | |
| Criticism for his “muslim ban” came in from all quarters including Madeline Albright, the former US secretary of state, Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani campaigner for girls’ education and Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg. | |
| We received the first reports of arrivals blocked at US airports. | |
| The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) described the executive order as worse than a draft form that had been leaked earlier in the week. | |
| Twelve nobel laureates are among thousands of signatories to a petition calling on Trump to renounce the order. | |
| A legal challenge has been filed against Donald Trump’s executive order by lawyers representing two Iraqi refugees. | |
| Theresa May and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have signed a £100m commitment to build new fighter jets. | |
| May refused to condemn Trump refugee ban when pressed on the issue by journalists at a joint press conference. | |
| People holding so-called green cards, making them legal permanent US residents, are included in the executive action. | |
| Iran vowed to take reciprocal action to Trump barring its citizens from entering the US. | |
| Trump spoke to Angela Merkel, the German chancellor and Russian president Vladamir Putin. | |
| We spoke to travellers who had been turned away from flights, and those who don’t know when they will see their families again | |
| Thank you so much for staying with us throughout the day and contributing your stories via our callout. We’re closing the live blog now, but will of course be publishing further stories on today’s events. | |
| 5.47pm GMT | 5.47pm GMT |
| 17:47 | 17:47 |
| Hamaseh Tayari, a UK resident who holds an Iranian passport, has been on holiday in Costa Rica with her boyfriend for the last week. She was due to fly back to Glasgow, where she works as a vet, this morning but was denied entry onto the flight because her flight went via New York and she would need a transit visa, which was revoked. | Hamaseh Tayari, a UK resident who holds an Iranian passport, has been on holiday in Costa Rica with her boyfriend for the last week. She was due to fly back to Glasgow, where she works as a vet, this morning but was denied entry onto the flight because her flight went via New York and she would need a transit visa, which was revoked. |
| Tayari, who grew up in Italy, has never experienced anything like this. She says: “This has really shocked me. We just discovered [what Trump did] at the airport when we went to check-in. I want people to know that this is not just happening to refugees. I am a graduate and I have a Phd. It has happened to a person who is working and who pays tax.” | Tayari, who grew up in Italy, has never experienced anything like this. She says: “This has really shocked me. We just discovered [what Trump did] at the airport when we went to check-in. I want people to know that this is not just happening to refugees. I am a graduate and I have a Phd. It has happened to a person who is working and who pays tax.” |
| Tayari and her boyfriend are trying to find an alternative route home. A flight to Madrid on the 30 January will cost them £2000 and they’ll still have to find a way from there to Glasgow. She says: “We had been saving for months for this holiday and it will cost me a month’s salary just to get home. | Tayari and her boyfriend are trying to find an alternative route home. A flight to Madrid on the 30 January will cost them £2000 and they’ll still have to find a way from there to Glasgow. She says: “We had been saving for months for this holiday and it will cost me a month’s salary just to get home. |
| “I am destroyed. I did not know that I could cry for so long. It feels like the beginning of the end. How this is possible? I am really afraid about what is going on.” | “I am destroyed. I did not know that I could cry for so long. It feels like the beginning of the end. How this is possible? I am really afraid about what is going on.” |
| 5.28pm GMT | 5.28pm GMT |
| 17:28 | 17:28 |
| Trump’s conversation with Putin, which began about noon Eastern time, comes as the president faces pressure to maintain sanctions against Moscow. Trump has previously spoken about the need to repair the US-Russian relationship, which has particularly tense in recent years. | Trump’s conversation with Putin, which began about noon Eastern time, comes as the president faces pressure to maintain sanctions against Moscow. Trump has previously spoken about the need to repair the US-Russian relationship, which has particularly tense in recent years. |
| Trump spoke with Putin from the Oval Office and was flanked by Vice President Pence, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and press secretary Sean Spicer. | Trump spoke with Putin from the Oval Office and was flanked by Vice President Pence, National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon and press secretary Sean Spicer. |
| We’ll update you when we receive official statements regarding the content of the call from both the Kremlin and the White House. | We’ll update you when we receive official statements regarding the content of the call from both the Kremlin and the White House. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.30pm GMT | at 5.30pm GMT |
| 5.24pm GMT | 5.24pm GMT |
| 17:24 | 17:24 |
| More travellers turned away from flights | More travellers turned away from flights |
| Dutch airline KLM says it has had to turn away seven would-be passengers because they would no longer have been accepted into the US under Trump’s ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations. | Dutch airline KLM says it has had to turn away seven would-be passengers because they would no longer have been accepted into the US under Trump’s ban on immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations. |
| Manel Vrijenhoek, at KLM’s press office, said: “We would love to bring them there. That’s not the problem. It’s just that this is what the US sprang on the rest of the world that these people are no longer welcome.” | Manel Vrijenhoek, at KLM’s press office, said: “We would love to bring them there. That’s not the problem. It’s just that this is what the US sprang on the rest of the world that these people are no longer welcome.” |
| She said the seven were due to fly with KLM from different airports around the world. Vrijenhoek said she had no specifics on their nationalities. She confirmed they were from countries affected by the three-month immigration ban: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. | She said the seven were due to fly with KLM from different airports around the world. Vrijenhoek said she had no specifics on their nationalities. She confirmed they were from countries affected by the three-month immigration ban: Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. |
| Meanwhile, Air Canada is reportedly blocking any travellers with passports from the seven countries from boarding flights to the US: | Meanwhile, Air Canada is reportedly blocking any travellers with passports from the seven countries from boarding flights to the US: |
| News: Air Canada says anyone with passport from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen CANNOT take flight to US, green card or not. | News: Air Canada says anyone with passport from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen CANNOT take flight to US, green card or not. |
| Air Canada: "This would affect only a small handful of our passengers," but they are "not permitted to enter the US." | Air Canada: "This would affect only a small handful of our passengers," but they are "not permitted to enter the US." |
| 5.17pm GMT | 5.17pm GMT |
| 17:17 | 17:17 |
| Murtadha Al-Tameemi, 24 is a software engineer for Facebook from Iraq who lives and works in Seattle. He was in Canada when he got a “frantic call” from his immigration attorney telling him to immediately cross the border back into the US. | Murtadha Al-Tameemi, 24 is a software engineer for Facebook from Iraq who lives and works in Seattle. He was in Canada when he got a “frantic call” from his immigration attorney telling him to immediately cross the border back into the US. |
| Tameemi’s family live just three hours away in Vancouver but he doesn’t know when he’ll see his family again. He says: “I have been traveling back and forth between the US and Canada on almost weekly basis for a few years. I was in Vancouver to attend the opening night of my little brother’s first play when I got the call but there was no way I was going to miss that. | Tameemi’s family live just three hours away in Vancouver but he doesn’t know when he’ll see his family again. He says: “I have been traveling back and forth between the US and Canada on almost weekly basis for a few years. I was in Vancouver to attend the opening night of my little brother’s first play when I got the call but there was no way I was going to miss that. |
| “I didn’t want to make a big deal because it was a happy night for our family but I told my mum the situation and that I didn’t know when I would see her again. She told me everything is going to be alright and that it would all work out.” | “I didn’t want to make a big deal because it was a happy night for our family but I told my mum the situation and that I didn’t know when I would see her again. She told me everything is going to be alright and that it would all work out.” |
| After the play he rushed to the airport. He says: “I showed up five hours before my flight this morning to race against any executive order and get through immigration before the potential ban could take effect.” | After the play he rushed to the airport. He says: “I showed up five hours before my flight this morning to race against any executive order and get through immigration before the potential ban could take effect.” |
| Tameemi, who first came to the US as an exchange student, also had to cancel a planned business trip to Africa. “It certainly doesn’t feel like the America that welcomed me 10 years ago with open arms and hearts.” | Tameemi, who first came to the US as an exchange student, also had to cancel a planned business trip to Africa. “It certainly doesn’t feel like the America that welcomed me 10 years ago with open arms and hearts.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.18pm GMT | at 5.18pm GMT |
| 5.11pm GMT | 5.11pm GMT |
| 17:11 | 17:11 |
| Trump calls Putin | Trump calls Putin |
| Donald Trump is now on the phone to Russian president Vladamir Putin, the White House press secretary has confirmed. | Donald Trump is now on the phone to Russian president Vladamir Putin, the White House press secretary has confirmed. |
| The US president had been scheduled to speak to several world leaders today, including Francois Hollande of France and Angela Merkel of Germany. | The US president had been scheduled to speak to several world leaders today, including Francois Hollande of France and Angela Merkel of Germany. |
| After speaking with Chancellor Merkel for 45 minutes @POTUS is now onto his 3rd of 5 head of government calls, speaking w Russian Pres Putin pic.twitter.com/RPAWIgcO2C | After speaking with Chancellor Merkel for 45 minutes @POTUS is now onto his 3rd of 5 head of government calls, speaking w Russian Pres Putin pic.twitter.com/RPAWIgcO2C |
| President Trump speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/EuPnvBTxRg | President Trump speaking on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin pic.twitter.com/EuPnvBTxRg |
| President Trump is flanked by Pence, Flynn, Bannon, Priebus and Spicer in the Oval Office as he talks with President Putin. | President Trump is flanked by Pence, Flynn, Bannon, Priebus and Spicer in the Oval Office as he talks with President Putin. |
| .@potus now speaking with Putin | .@potus now speaking with Putin |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.13pm GMT | at 5.13pm GMT |
| 5.03pm GMT | 5.03pm GMT |
| 17:03 | 17:03 |
| Washington is responsible for its policy on refugees, Theresa May told reporters, when asked about Trump’s ban on people from certain countries seeking refuge in the US. | Washington is responsible for its policy on refugees, Theresa May told reporters, when asked about Trump’s ban on people from certain countries seeking refuge in the US. |
| May made the comment at a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara, the Turkish capital. May had previously said that the special relationship between the United States and Britain meant that the two countries could speak frankly when they disagreed. | May made the comment at a joint news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim in Ankara, the Turkish capital. May had previously said that the special relationship between the United States and Britain meant that the two countries could speak frankly when they disagreed. |
| Trump’s executive order has prompted fury from Arab travellers in the Middle East and North Africa who said it was humiliating and discriminatory. It drew widespread criticism from Western allies including France and Germany, Arab American advocacy groups and human rights organisations. | Trump’s executive order has prompted fury from Arab travellers in the Middle East and North Africa who said it was humiliating and discriminatory. It drew widespread criticism from Western allies including France and Germany, Arab American advocacy groups and human rights organisations. |
| 4.45pm GMT | 4.45pm GMT |
| 16:45 | 16:45 |
| Iran vows reciprocal action to refugee ban | Iran vows reciprocal action to refugee ban |
| Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Saeed Kamali Dehghan |
| Iran has condemned its inclusion alongside six other predominantly Muslim countries in the US visa ban as an “open affront against the Muslim world and the Iranian nation” and vowed to retaliate. | Iran has condemned its inclusion alongside six other predominantly Muslim countries in the US visa ban as an “open affront against the Muslim world and the Iranian nation” and vowed to retaliate. |
| A Foreign Ministry statement carried by state media said Iran “would take appropriate consular, legal and political measures” against the ban, which was announced by President Donald Trump on Friday. | A Foreign Ministry statement carried by state media said Iran “would take appropriate consular, legal and political measures” against the ban, which was announced by President Donald Trump on Friday. |
| “The decision by the United States to impose travel restrictions on Muslims - even if it is limited to three months - is an explicit insult to the Muslim world, particularly the great people of Iran,” the statement read, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. | “The decision by the United States to impose travel restrictions on Muslims - even if it is limited to three months - is an explicit insult to the Muslim world, particularly the great people of Iran,” the statement read, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. |
| “Instead of countering terrorism and protecting American people, these measure will be written in history as a gift to extremists and their supporters.” | “Instead of countering terrorism and protecting American people, these measure will be written in history as a gift to extremists and their supporters.” |
| Tehran said it was closely watching the developments on the visa bans. “We respect people of American and we differentiate between them and their government but because of supporting the rights of our citizens and until these insulting restrictions have been lifted, we would reciprocate.” | Tehran said it was closely watching the developments on the visa bans. “We respect people of American and we differentiate between them and their government but because of supporting the rights of our citizens and until these insulting restrictions have been lifted, we would reciprocate.” |
| Also on Saturday, Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said: “Today is not the time of wall-raising between nations. Have they forgotten that the Berlin Wall collapsed years ago?” | Also on Saturday, Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said: “Today is not the time of wall-raising between nations. Have they forgotten that the Berlin Wall collapsed years ago?” |
| According to Press TV, Rouhani aded: “Today’s world is not a world where one can create distances between the nations and peoples of different territories. Today is a day of neighbourhood. We have become neighbours in cultural, scientific, and civilisational terms, and also, the world of communications and communications technology have shrunk distances...No one can fight globalisation today.” | According to Press TV, Rouhani aded: “Today’s world is not a world where one can create distances between the nations and peoples of different territories. Today is a day of neighbourhood. We have become neighbours in cultural, scientific, and civilisational terms, and also, the world of communications and communications technology have shrunk distances...No one can fight globalisation today.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.48pm GMT | at 4.48pm GMT |
| 4.31pm GMT | 4.31pm GMT |
| 16:31 | 16:31 |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| I’m handing the live blog over to my colleague Nicola Slawson, thanks for reading. | I’m handing the live blog over to my colleague Nicola Slawson, thanks for reading. |
| 4.28pm GMT | 4.28pm GMT |
| 16:28 | 16:28 |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| Iraqi soldiers - who have been backed by US-led air support, training and other assistance - have decried Trump’s travel restrictions, AFP reports. | Iraqi soldiers - who have been backed by US-led air support, training and other assistance - have decried Trump’s travel restrictions, AFP reports. |
| In Mosul, where Iraqi forces are at the forefront of the war against jihadists, soldiers told reporters the move would prevent them from visiting their families. | In Mosul, where Iraqi forces are at the forefront of the war against jihadists, soldiers told reporters the move would prevent them from visiting their families. |
| “It’s not fair, it’s not right. I should have the right to visit my family,” said Assem Ayad, a 23-year-old soldier deployed in Mosul who has three cousins living in Texas. | “It’s not fair, it’s not right. I should have the right to visit my family,” said Assem Ayad, a 23-year-old soldier deployed in Mosul who has three cousins living in Texas. |
| “This decision was made because there are terrorist groups in Iraq. But there are also innocent people” including those who are fighting against jihadists, said Ayad, who carried an American-made assault rifle. | “This decision was made because there are terrorist groups in Iraq. But there are also innocent people” including those who are fighting against jihadists, said Ayad, who carried an American-made assault rifle. |
| Haider Hassan, 45, another soldier in Mosul, said his cousin lives in the United States and that he had wanted to visit. | Haider Hassan, 45, another soldier in Mosul, said his cousin lives in the United States and that he had wanted to visit. |
| Referring to US military personnel deployed in Iraq, Hassan asked: “Why would they ban us from coming to America when they are in my country and have bases here?” | Referring to US military personnel deployed in Iraq, Hassan asked: “Why would they ban us from coming to America when they are in my country and have bases here?” |
| Isis overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, sweeping aside military and police units that were ill-prepared to combat the offensive. | Isis overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, sweeping aside military and police units that were ill-prepared to combat the offensive. |
| 4.23pm GMT | 4.23pm GMT |
| 16:23 | 16:23 |
| Theresa May refuses to condemn Trump refugee ban | Theresa May refuses to condemn Trump refugee ban |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| Theresa May has ducked a series of questions on Donald Trump’s migrant and refugee ban, according to reporters at the scene of a joint press conference with the Turkish PM. | Theresa May has ducked a series of questions on Donald Trump’s migrant and refugee ban, according to reporters at the scene of a joint press conference with the Turkish PM. |
| The prime minister had travelled to Turkey to meet with the country’s leaders just 24 hours after holding a joint press conference with the new US president in a bid to cement the UK-US special relationship. | The prime minister had travelled to Turkey to meet with the country’s leaders just 24 hours after holding a joint press conference with the new US president in a bid to cement the UK-US special relationship. |
| She was asked on more than one occasion what she thought of Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries. | She was asked on more than one occasion what she thought of Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries. |
| After first ducking the question, she said: “The United States is responsible for the United State policy on refugees.” | After first ducking the question, she said: “The United States is responsible for the United State policy on refugees.” |
| Here’s the Guardian’s political editor Heather Stewart: | Here’s the Guardian’s political editor Heather Stewart: |
| May ducked question about Trump's refugee ban. Asked again, she tetchily replies: "The US is responsible for the US policy on refugees." | May ducked question about Trump's refugee ban. Asked again, she tetchily replies: "The US is responsible for the US policy on refugees." |
| Buzzfeed’s Jim Waterson: | Buzzfeed’s Jim Waterson: |
| Theresa May completely fails to engage on whether she's comfortable with Trump's refugee policy. Does not answer question. | Theresa May completely fails to engage on whether she's comfortable with Trump's refugee policy. Does not answer question. |
| The Mirror’s Jack Blanchard: | The Mirror’s Jack Blanchard: |
| Theresa May refuses to criticise her new pal Donald Trump for his refugee ban. Ducks question from @faisalislam completely here in Turkey | Theresa May refuses to criticise her new pal Donald Trump for his refugee ban. Ducks question from @faisalislam completely here in Turkey |
| BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: | BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: |
| May swerves Q on Trump ban, doesnt answer @faisalislam 's Q | May swerves Q on Trump ban, doesnt answer @faisalislam 's Q |
| Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman: | Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman: |
| May flatly refuses to condemn Trump for banning refugees. Totally ignores that part of the question. Won't criticise her new bestie | May flatly refuses to condemn Trump for banning refugees. Totally ignores that part of the question. Won't criticise her new bestie |
| The Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn: | The Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn: |
| Theresa May asked to condemn Trump's refugees ban. Ducks the Q to talk about UK. Heckle from press: "And the US?". PM gives death stare. | Theresa May asked to condemn Trump's refugees ban. Ducks the Q to talk about UK. Heckle from press: "And the US?". PM gives death stare. |
| Paul Waugh: | Paul Waugh: |
| It took four goes but we got there in the end. May refused three times to answer the Trump refugee Q. Then said it's a matter for the US. | It took four goes but we got there in the end. May refused three times to answer the Trump refugee Q. Then said it's a matter for the US. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.43pm GMT | at 4.43pm GMT |
| 4.17pm GMT | 4.17pm GMT |
| 16:17 | 16:17 |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| Abas Aslani at Iranian news agency, Tasnim, says the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it will apply a reciprocal measure against US visas - via my colleague Saeed Kamali Dehghan. | Abas Aslani at Iranian news agency, Tasnim, says the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said it will apply a reciprocal measure against US visas - via my colleague Saeed Kamali Dehghan. |
| #Iran MFA: Iran, while respecting American ppl & distinguishing them from govmnt's hostile policies, will apply reciprocal measure.#VisaBan | #Iran MFA: Iran, while respecting American ppl & distinguishing them from govmnt's hostile policies, will apply reciprocal measure.#VisaBan |
| 4.09pm GMT | 4.09pm GMT |
| 16:09 | 16:09 |
| Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Saeed Kamali Dehghan |
| Ali Abdi, an Iranian with permanent residency of the US, is in limbo in Dubai. | Ali Abdi, an Iranian with permanent residency of the US, is in limbo in Dubai. |
| He can not go to Iran because he has been outspoken about human rights violations there, he can not return to the US because of the visa bans and he can not stay longer in Dubai as his visa will run out. He said on his Facebook page: | He can not go to Iran because he has been outspoken about human rights violations there, he can not return to the US because of the visa bans and he can not stay longer in Dubai as his visa will run out. He said on his Facebook page: |
| I am an Iranian PhD student of anthropology in the US. Doing fieldwork is the defining method of our discipline. I left New York on January 22nd, two days after he was sworn in. Now in Dubai, waiting for the issuance of my visa to enter Afghanistan to carry out the ethnographic research. The language of the racist executive order he just signed is ambiguous, but it is likely to prevent permanent residents like me from returning to the country where I am a student, where I have to defend my thesis. | I am an Iranian PhD student of anthropology in the US. Doing fieldwork is the defining method of our discipline. I left New York on January 22nd, two days after he was sworn in. Now in Dubai, waiting for the issuance of my visa to enter Afghanistan to carry out the ethnographic research. The language of the racist executive order he just signed is ambiguous, but it is likely to prevent permanent residents like me from returning to the country where I am a student, where I have to defend my thesis. |
| Meanwhile, it’s not yet clear whether the consulate of Afghanistan in Dubai would issue the visa I need in order to stay in Kabul for a year, and I cannot stay in Dubai for long or my UAE visa would expire. It’s not wise to go to Iran either. | Meanwhile, it’s not yet clear whether the consulate of Afghanistan in Dubai would issue the visa I need in order to stay in Kabul for a year, and I cannot stay in Dubai for long or my UAE visa would expire. It’s not wise to go to Iran either. |
| This is just one story among thousands. | This is just one story among thousands. |
| 4.03pm GMT | 4.03pm GMT |
| 16:03 | 16:03 |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| Trump has started his round of phonecalls to world leaders with a conversation with Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan. | Trump has started his round of phonecalls to world leaders with a conversation with Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan. |
| Abe has been invited to a meeting at the White House on 10 February, a White House spokesman told Reuters. | Abe has been invited to a meeting at the White House on 10 February, a White House spokesman told Reuters. |
| Abe was scheduled to be Trump’s first phone call and is expected to next call German Chancellor Angela Markel before speaking to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. | Abe was scheduled to be Trump’s first phone call and is expected to next call German Chancellor Angela Markel before speaking to the Russian President Vladimir Putin. |
| His call with Putin will be heavily scrutinised following allegations that Russia attempted to interfere in the US election to assist Trump’s victory. Trump has complimented Putin in the past but on Friday said there were no guarantees about relations between the two countries. Trump’s team have hinted at the possibility of a relaxation of US sanctions against Russia. | His call with Putin will be heavily scrutinised following allegations that Russia attempted to interfere in the US election to assist Trump’s victory. Trump has complimented Putin in the past but on Friday said there were no guarantees about relations between the two countries. Trump’s team have hinted at the possibility of a relaxation of US sanctions against Russia. |
| Later in the afternoon, Trump is scheduled to speak with the French President Francis Hollande and the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. | Later in the afternoon, Trump is scheduled to speak with the French President Francis Hollande and the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. |
| The calls with France and Germany will come after a joint news conference in Paris with German foreign minster Sigmar Gabriel and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, where the two men expressed concern over the new immigration restrictions and reaffirmed a hardline stance on Russia sanctions. | The calls with France and Germany will come after a joint news conference in Paris with German foreign minster Sigmar Gabriel and French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, where the two men expressed concern over the new immigration restrictions and reaffirmed a hardline stance on Russia sanctions. |
| 3.51pm GMT | 3.51pm GMT |
| 15:51 | 15:51 |
| Jamie Grierson | Jamie Grierson |
| Trump’s order banning migrants and refugees from entering the US is illegal, argues an immigration policy expert. | Trump’s order banning migrants and refugees from entering the US is illegal, argues an immigration policy expert. |
| Writing for the New York Times, David J Bier, an analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, says that more than 50 years ago, Congress outlawed such discrimination against immigrants based on national origin. | Writing for the New York Times, David J Bier, an analyst at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, says that more than 50 years ago, Congress outlawed such discrimination against immigrants based on national origin. |
| The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 banned all discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin, Bier writes. | The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 banned all discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin, Bier writes. |
| The act was drawn up in response to laws creating a so-called Asiatic Barred Zone, banning immigration from China, Japan and other Asian countries. | The act was drawn up in response to laws creating a so-called Asiatic Barred Zone, banning immigration from China, Japan and other Asian countries. |
| Trump points to a 1952 law allowing the president the ability to “suspend the entry” of “any class of aliens”, says Bier, but this ignores restrictions placed by Congress in 1965, stating no person could be “discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the person’s race, sex, nationality, place of birth or place of residence”. | Trump points to a 1952 law allowing the president the ability to “suspend the entry” of “any class of aliens”, says Bier, but this ignores restrictions placed by Congress in 1965, stating no person could be “discriminated against in the issuance of an immigrant visa because of the person’s race, sex, nationality, place of birth or place of residence”. |
| While presidents have used their power dozens of times to keep out certain groups of foreigners under the 1952 law, no president has ever barred an entire nationality of immigrants, says Bier. | While presidents have used their power dozens of times to keep out certain groups of foreigners under the 1952 law, no president has ever barred an entire nationality of immigrants, says Bier. |
| While courts rarely interfere in immigration matters, they have affirmed the discrimination ban, he adds. | While courts rarely interfere in immigration matters, they have affirmed the discrimination ban, he adds. |