Tag: refugee ban

US travel ‘extreme vetting’ to include social media, phone contacts

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – Travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries singled out for “extreme vetting” will face scrutiny of their social media footprint and phone records, the new Homeland Security secretary said Tuesday. Secretary John Kelly sought to explain President Donald Trump’s travel ban four days after he issued it with no warning, setting off mass protests, legal challenges and confusion. “There are many countries, seven that we are dealing with right now, that […]

Trump faces wall of resistance to immigration order

  by Andrew BEATTY Agence France-Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) – US President Donald Trump has crushed the most defiant display yet of official opposition to his immigration and refugee restrictions — but resistance continued to spread Tuesday, inside and outside the government. Trump’s swift dismissal of acting attorney general Sally Yates for refusing to defend his executive orders capped a night of high drama, Washington-style, that drew comparisons with a flurry of urgent housekeeping […]

UN chief takes aim at ‘blind measures’ in criticism of US travel ban

UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday sharpened his criticism of the US ban on travellers from seven Muslim nations, saying such “blind measures” are unlikely to be effective in fighting terrorism. Guterres said countries seeking to strengthen control of their borders cannot do so “based on any form of discrimination related to religion, ethnicity or nationality.” Such discrimination “triggers widespread anxiety and anger that may facilitate the propaganda of the […]