Trump’s revised travel ban takes effect from today

TIL Desk/World/Washington/A “watered down”, revised version of US President Donald Trump’s fiercely litigated travel ban will be finally put into effect from Thursday evening. The White House on Wednesday set new guidelines for visa applicants from six Muslim-majority countries — Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan — and all refugees, requiring them to have a “close” family or business tie to the US.

The new guidelines were issued in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling partially restoring Trump’s controversial travel ban. According to the new guidelines, sent to overseas posts on Wednesday, visa applicants must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling in the US.

If the applicant cannot sufficiently establish such a close relationship, he or she will be banned for 90 days if one is from the six Muslim-majority countries, and 120 days if one is a refugee from any country. The guidelines have not yet been posted by the State Department or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and could be subject to change, the official said.