Trump Pledges to Reinstate Controversial Muslim Travel Ban If Elected
Speaking in a in a rally in Iowa on Friday, Trump claimed that his policy of "extreme vetting" and a "powerful travel ban" had successfully prevented "radical Islamic terrorists and jihadists" from entering the US during his presidency.
He said that if he returns to the White House, he would impose a "bigger and stronger" travel ban that would keep out people who want to "blow up our shopping centres, our cities and our farms".
Trump first introduced the travel ban in 2017, shortly after taking office. He faced multiple legal challenges and protests over the policy, which critics said was discriminatory, unconstitutional and ineffective.
He revised the ban twice, adding and removing some countries, until the Supreme Court upheld the third version in 2018.
The final version of the ban restricted entry for most citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Somalia and Yemen. It also suspended the refugee programme for 120 days.
President Joe Biden reversed the travel ban by executive order in his first week in office in 2021. He said the ban was "a stain on our national conscience" and "inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all".
Source: Agencies
