A federal Judge in the United States of America has nullified an executive order preventing many foreigners from entering the country.
This order was signed by President Donald Trump. The US Department of Homeland Security said it will comply with judicial orders not to deport detained travelers affected by President Donald Trump’s move to ban more than 130 million people from entering the United States.
The court ruled that people with valid visas cannot be removed from the United States
The executive order signed by the president slammed shut the borders of the United States for an Iranian scientist headed to a lab in Massachusetts, a Syrian refugee family headed to a new life in Ohio and countless others across the world.
The president’s order, suspended entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, barred Syrian refugees indefinitely, and blocked entry into the United States for 90 days for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries which are: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
White House officials said that green card holders from the seven affected countries who are outside the United States would need a case-by-case waiver to return.
Hundreds of people waited outside of the courthouse chanting, “Set them free!” as lawyers made their case. When the crowd learned that Judge Donnelly had ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, a rousing cheer went up in the crowd.
Minutes after the judge’s ruling in New York City, another judge, Leonie M. Brinkema of Federal District Court in Virginia, issued a temporary restraining order for a week to block the removal of any green card holders being detained at Dulles International Airport.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, dispelled rumours making the rounds that US visa policy for Nigeria has been reduced to one year. He said that America would not discriminate against any Nigerian on the basis of religion or on the new visa regime. He stated further that the two-year visa for Nigeria was still valid.
“The new order now is for the U.S. government to cross-check as many that are coming into the U.S. before issuing visas.
“We will not discriminate on the basis of religion in issuing visas to Nigerians. The two-year visa is still valid contrary to reports we have heard in the media.
“Nigeria’s leadership role is crucial in the world and Nigeria cannot be blacklisted. The importance of Nigeria in the world is legal,” he said.