President Donald Trump is scrapping his controversial blanket ban on travel from six Muslim-majority countries in favor of placing individual targeted restrictions on more nations, the Wall Street Journal first reported Friday.
According to plans drawn up by the Department of Homeland Security, the new restrictions will target countries that do not comply with U.S. travel standards, such as issuing passports and informing the United States of known terrorists. The WSJ reported that that list initially flagged 17 nations, but that about half of those had brought themselves into compliance when they were informed they faced possible restrictions on travel.
The White House, which must approve the final decision, declined to confirm the new measures Friday, saying instead that “The Trump administration will ensure we only admit those who can be properly vetted and will not pose a threat to national security or public safety.”
In the wake of a London terror attack earlier this month, President Trump took to Twitter to call for a tougher travel ban into the United States.
The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
