Donald Trump has said border security must check people coming in ‘VERY CAREFULLY’ after attempts to reinstate his travel ban executive order were rejected.
His controversial ban on travellers from seven mainly Muslim countries was temporarily suspended by a federal judge on Friday. Trump then appealed, but the courts rejected the appeal yesterday.
Trump has until 3pm Pacific time today to file another appeal. In the meantime, he has issued a tweet saying: "I have instructed Homeland Security to check people coming into our country VERY CAREFULLY. The courts are making the job very difficult!"
Judge Robart ruled on Friday there were grounds to challenge the ban and the Homeland Security Department told its employees to comply with the ruling immediately. Trump responded by saying the judge’s opinion was ‘ridiculous’.
The Foreign Office advice says the ban is currently suspended, but warned ‘exact visa and other entry conditions could…change at short notice’.
Meanwhile, US tech giants have stepped into the fray with their own legal challenge.
Nearly 100 tech companies, including Uber, Apple and Facebook, filed a motion stating the executive order ‘violates the immigration laws and the Constitution’.
"Immigrants make many of the Nation’s greatest discoveries, and create some of the country’s most innovative and iconic companies," it said.
A survey of European travel professionals, undertaken in the days before the ban was suspended, found just under half expect it to cause a reduction in their company’s business travel in the next three months.
A poll by the Global Business Travel Association found 49% believe the ban would impact travel.
The figure was lower at 31% when the GBTA surveyed its US members earlier last week.
Nearly two-thirds of US members fear other countries could retaliate by banning US nationals, which could severely hamper international business.
Also, 54% said they fear the ban could increase threats to US citizens travelling overseas
In the European poll, 38% of respondents said there are directives within their organisation to cancel or delay travel of employees who are nationals of countries included in the ban.
A TravelMole poll shows a three-way split between respondents on what effect the Trump Administration will have on US travel.
In response to the question: "Seen any Trump effect yet on USA bookings?" 33% said bookings were good; 34% said bookings were bad and 33% said the Trump effect on USA bookings had been ‘none’.
