Update 3-6-2017, 1:30 p.m.
Congressional leaders are reacting to President Trump's revised travel ban.
- GOP House Speaker Paul Ryan says it improves vetting and advances a "shared goal of protecting the homeland."
- House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called it "dangerous discrimination" that weakens America's ability to fight terror.
The revised executive order takes effect March 16th. Those with green cards and valid visas are exempt.
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President Donald Trump has signed a revised travel ban that temporarily halts entry to the U.S. for people from six Muslim-majority nations who are seeking new visas and suspends the country's refugee program. That's according to White House spokesman Michael Short, who says the signing was done privately.
The new executive order claims to address legal issues that arose from the original order, which was blocked by the courts. The countries affected by the new ban include:
- Sudan
- Syria
- Iran
- Libya
- Somalia
- Yemen
Those from the countries above who do not currently have valid visas will be blocked from coming to the United States for 90 days.
Iraq was originally included on the list of banned countries in January's order, but has been removed after allegedly agreeing to increase cooperation with the U.S. government on vetting of its citizens applying for a travel visa. The previous ban sparked anger among many Iraqis, and prompted lawmakers to call for a reciprocal order banning Americans from Iraq.
Iraq says the revised ban sends a "positive message" about the future of bilateral relations as the two countries work to combat the Islamic State group.
Government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi says the decision to revise the ban shows that there is a "real partnership" between Washington and Baghdad.
The move sparked anger among many Iraqis, and prompted lawmakers to call for a reciprocal order banning Americans from Iraq.