Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 25 SepteMber 2017
Travel ban a few government officials
from Venezuela doesn’t
obfuscate the real fact
Continued from previous that the administration’s
page
order is still a Muslim ban,”
Unlike the first iteration of said Anthony D. Romero,
Trump’s travel ban, which the executive director of
sparked chaos at airports the American Civil Liberties
across the country and a Union, which has been
flurry of legal challenges challenging the ban in
after being hastily written court. “President Trump’s
with little input outside original sin of targeting
the White House, officials Muslims cannot be cured
stressed they had been by throwing other countries
working for months on the onto his enemies list.”
new rules, in collaboration Johnathan Smith, legal
with various agencies director of the advocacy
and in conversation with group Muslim Advocates,
foreign governments. also slammed the measure
To limit confusion, valid visas as the “same Muslim
would not be revoked as a ban” and an attempt
result of the proclamation. “to undermine our
The order also permits, but In this Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally for Constitution.”
does not guarantee, case- Sen. Luther Strange, R-Ala., in Huntsville, Ala. But administration officials
by-case waivers for citizens Associated Press argue the measure
of the affected countries is necessary to keep
who meet certain criteria. such as whether countries immigrant visas, such as religious bias each time Americans safe.
That includes: having issue electronic passports for business and tourism, to he has ordered new travel Secretary of State Rex
previously worked or with biometric information, nationals of Chad, Libya, restrictions. Tillerson said in a statement
studied in the U.S.; having report lost or stolen North Korea, Syria and And the inclusion of the president was carrying
previously established passports to INTERPOL, and Yemen. Venezuela and North out his duty to protect the
“significant contacts” share information about Citizens of Iran will not be Korea appeared to be American people. He said
in the U.S.; and having travelers’ terror-related eligible for tourism and an attempt to block the State Department
“significant business or and criminal histories. The business visas, but remain challenges from advocacy would coordinate with
professional obligations” U.S. then shared those eligible for student and groups and others who other federal agencies to
in the U.S. Still, officials benchmarks with every cultural exchange visas if have called the restrictions implement the measures in
acknowledged the waiver country in the world and they undergo additional a ban on Muslims. Trump “an orderly manner” and
restrictions were narrower gave them 50 days to scrutiny. during his campaign called would “continue to work
than the exemptions for comply. Such additional scrutiny will for a “total and complete closely with our allies and
people with bona fide A total of sixteen countries also be required for Somali shutdown of Muslims partners who share our
ties to the United States did not comply with citizens applying for all non- entering the United States.” commitment to national
that the Supreme Court the rules at first, officials immigrant visas. The U.S. had already and global security.”
mandated before the said, but half worked Trump last week called for a imposed wide-ranging The new policy could also
expiring order went into with the U.S. to improve “tougher” travel ban after sanctions on certain complicate the Supreme
effect in late June. their information-sharing a bomb partially exploded high-ranking Venezuelan Court’s upcoming review
The restrictions are and security practices. on a London subway. government officials to of the order, which is
targeted at countries The remaining eight are “The travel ban into the protest the government’s scheduled for argument
that the Department of now subject to the new United States should be far attempts to consulate next month.
Homeland Security says restrictions until they make larger, tougher and more power. The new visa The Justice Department
fail to share sufficient changes to bring them into specific-but stupidly, that sanctions will apply to has suggested to the
information with the U.S. or compliance. would not be politically all officials from five Supreme Court that the
haven’t taken necessary The new rules include the correct!” he tweeted. Venezuelan government two sides submit new legal
security precautions. suspension of all immigrant Critics have accused Trump security agencies and their briefs by October 5 — five
DHS has spent recent visas for nationals of Chad, of overstepping his legal immediate families. days before the argument
months working to develop Iran, Libya, North Korea, authority and violating “The fact that Trump has — that address how the
a new security baseline, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, the U.S. Constitution’s added North Korea — with new policy will affect the
which includes factors and the suspension of non- protections against few visitors to the U.S. — and case.q
Opposition from GOP senators grows, jeopardizes health bill

By ALAN FRAM liaison Marc Short and prevail with their narrow the bill’s GOP opponents as the 52 GOP senators would
Associated Press Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- Senate majority. he prepared to fly back to kill the party’s effort to de-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- S.C., one of the measure’s Next Sunday, protections Washington after a week- liver on its perennial vow to
publican opposition to sponsors, said Republicans expire against a Democrat- end at his New Jersey golf repeal “Obamacare” and
the GOP health care bill would press ahead with a ic filibuster, bill-killing delays club. would reprise the party’s
swelled to near-fatal num- vote this week. that Republicans lack the “But you know what? Even- politically jarring failure to
bers Sunday as Sen. Susan But the comments by Col- votes to overcome. tually we’ll win, whether it’s accomplish that this sum-
Collins all but closed the lins and Cruz left the Re- President Donald Trump now or later.” mer.
door on supporting the publican drive to uproot seemed to distance himself Two GOP senators, Rand Collins cited the bill’s cuts
last-ditch effort to scrap President Barack Obama’s from the showdown, saying Paul of Kentucky and John in the Medicaid program
the Obama health care Affordable Care Act dan- his “primary focus” was his McCain of Arizona, have for low-income people and
law and Sen. Ted Cruz said gling by an increasingly party’s drive to cut taxes. already said they oppose the likelihood that it would
that “right now” he doesn’t fraying thread. “I don’t know what they’re the legislation. All Demo- result in many losing health
back it. A vote must occur this doing,” crats will vote against it. coverage and paying
White House legislative week for Republicans to Trump told reporters about “No” votes from three of higher premiums. q