SAN DIEGO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The Trump administration announced a travel ban against a dozen countries on Wednesday and restrictions on seven others, citing national security concerns as a major reason for the restrictions.
“We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,” President Donald Trump said in a video posted to social media.
The proclamation signed Wednesday bans people from the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Yemen
It also restricts travel to the United States from these countries:
- Burundi
- Cuba
- Laos
- Sierra Leone
- Togo
- Turkmenistan
- Venezuela
That makes traveling to San Diego potentially more difficult or impossible for visitors from these nations.
“In order for this ban, this travel restriction to stand up in court, it has to be tied to legitimate reasons, and the president is tying it to issues of national security,” said Wendy Patrick, FOX 5 and KUSI legal analyst.
This isn’t the first time Trump imposed a controversial travel ban. In 2017, during his first term in office, he also restricted travel from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
“It can’t be tied to demographics that are impermissible such as religion, race, national origin,” Patrick said. “It has to be tied to an issue for which these powers exist.”
Advocacy groups like the Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans criticize the ban, saying, “At a time when immigration enforcement agents are abducting immigrants and tearing families apart, this ban only magnifies the inhumane treatment of people under this administration.”
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, echoes these concerns, saying in a statement, “This senseless, prejudicial policy is an abuse of power that also threatens U.S. citizen relatives from the targeted countries.”
The Administration cites a report from the Department of Homeland Security that tracks the number of visa overstays, singling out nations with the highest overstay rates and countries with what the administration calls a significant terrorist presence.
“In the 21st century, we’ve seen one terror attack after another carried out by foreign visa overstayers,” Trump said.
Patrick says that clarity could make upholding the ban in court more successful, but not foolproof.
“The first ban had a time limit on it — 90 days, 120 days. This one doesn’t. It’s open-ended, and that in and of itself could form the basis for a lawsuit,” Patrick said.
The San Diego Tourism Authority says it’s too early to predict the impact, adding, “It’s worth noting that international visitors comprise a relatively small portion of San Diego’s overall tourism economy — only about 10 percent of overnight visitors. This gives us more stability than other gateway cities.”
“Lawyers and citizens from all over the world who are seeking to enter the U.S. are going to try to get clarity and try to get court action between now and the next term,” Patrick said.
This travel ban is set to take effect on Monday, giving airports time to prepare, but that also leaves plenty of time for lawyers to file lawsuits against the proclamation.
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