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Donald Trump’s ban will have lasting and damaging impacts on the world’s refugees

Phil Orchard writes in The Conversation (30.1.17) about the implications of the Trump administration’s ban on immigration from certain muslim-populated countries, both for refugees and for Australia’s relations with the US.

‘US President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration fundamentally alters decades of bipartisan US practice. It blocks immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries, and stops all refugee resettlement for at least 120 days.

‘Trump’s justification for the order is: “… the US must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles.” The first element includes blocking any immigration from seven countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen – for at least 30 days.

‘The first day after the order was approved dual citizens and US permanent residents – usually called green card holders – were prevented from boarding flights to the US and even detained on arrival. A temporary injunction has provided at least some protections, though it is being applied patchily and only to those people who have already entered the US.

‘… The ban will also put more pressure on refugee-hosting countries. About 90% of the world’s refugees are in the developing world. The international refugee system works through burden-sharing: host countries know that at least some refugees will be resettled and that they will receive financial assistance for the refugees from the UNHCR and other organisations and governments.

‘Trump’s move challenges this directly, and will likely lead to further restrictions on the ability of refugees to receive basic protections.’

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