Australian Citizens Will Still Be Able To Travel To The US, Regardless Of Their Background
Malcolm Turnbull claims he's secured a "deal" with Donald Trump.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that Australian nationals will still be able to travel to the US, even if they are also citizens of one of the countries targeted by Donald Trump’s immigration ban.
When Trump first announced his immigration ban there was global confusion around who exactly it would impact. Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as all refugees, have been temporarily blocked from entering the US, but the US government was initially vague on how the policy would apply to US permanent residents and dual-nationals.
There were fears that Australian citizens, who also held passports from one of the banned nations, might be banned from entering the US. Yesterday a 15-year old schoolkid, who holds both Australian and Iranian citizenship, became one of the first Australians to be denied a visa to the US as a result of the ban.
The UK government announced on Monday that its citizens would be exempt from the travel ban, even if they were also citizens of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen.
The Australian government didn’t comment on whether or not Australian citizens would similarly be exempt from the ban, but the foreign minister Julie Bishop and former immigration minister Scott Morrison all found time to defend Trump’s policy.
But now the government has confirmed Australian citizens will be exempt.
PM Turnbull confirmed to @SkyNewsAust Australian dual nationals will be exempt from President Trump's travel ban #amagenda
— Kieran Gilbert (@Kieran_Gilbert) January 30, 2017
The government is claiming that exemption is part of a “deal” secured between Turnbull and Trump, but other reports suggest the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia were all granted an exemption at the same time.
The fact that citizens from wealthy, western nations have been exempted from the ban doesn’t really make it much better — even if it does make it likely fewer people we personally know will be impacted.
Turnbull will be expecting the public to pat him on the back for securing the exemption, but the UK, Canada and New Zealand have secured the same thing, even after their leaders criticised the immigration ban. If Turnbull wants to be congratulated he could start by condemning the ban, and showing some leadership on the issue of refugees.