State Dept begins fully implementing Trump’s travel ban

The U.S. on Friday began fully implementing the so-called travel ban, an initiative by President Trump to restrict travelers from select countries entering the U.S.

In a press release, the State Department announced that it would begin implementing the ban on travel from nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Somalia, Venezuela and Yemen after the Supreme Court reinstated the third version of Trump’s executive order on Monday.

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“National security is our top priority in visa operations. Our embassies and consulates around the world are fully implementing Presidential Proclamation 9645 to protect the American people, now that U.S. Supreme Court orders permit us to do that and based on extensive guidance provided to them by the Department,” according to a statement from the department.

The State Department stressed that travel restrictions for the eight nations are not permanent and can be lifted if countries comply with information-sharing standards set by the U.S. government on issues such as “terrorist attacks, transnational crime, and immigration fraud.”

“The restrictions are conditional and may be lifted as countries work with the U.S. government to ensure the safety of Americans,” the statement said. “Most countries in the world now meet the new requirements, which is an important element of ensuring our security.”

Trump’s executive order, commonly known as the travel ban, was challenged multiple times in court. The Supreme Court handed Trump a victory last month when it tossed out the last remaining case challenging the ban.

On Monday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions celebrated the Trump administration’s victory at the Supreme Court, calling the reinstatement of the travel ban a “substantial victory for the safety and security of the American people.”

“We are pleased to have defended this order and heartened that a clear majority Supreme Court has allowed the President’s lawful proclamation protecting our country’s national security to go into full effect,” he said in a statement. “The Constitution gives the President the responsibility and power to protect this country from all threats foreign and domestic, and this order remains vital to accomplishing those goals.”