\”Civil rights advocates in the United States are expressing concern over a directive signed by President Donald Trump that they believe could lead to another travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries. The executive order, issued on Monday, is also seen as a way to target foreign nationals who are legally in the US and crack down on international students who support Palestinian rights. According to experts, the new order is considered to be more extensive and concerning than the previous travel ban imposed by Trump in 2017. The order instructs administration officials to identify countries with deficient vetting and screening information to potentially suspend admission for their nationals. It also calls for gathering information on citizens from these countries who entered the US since 2021 and taking steps to deport them if necessary. The order also requires that foreign citizens, including those already in the US, do not have hostile attitudes towards Americans or support designated foreign terrorists. Advocates have criticized the order, calling it ‘scary’ and warning that it could lead to the exclusion and removal of individuals based on vague rationales. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and other groups have condemned the order for giving the government broad authority to deny visas and remove people from the US. The order has also raised concerns about targeting Palestinians and Palestinian rights supporters, with some experts suggesting it could be used to crack down on political activities deemed contrary to the administration’s guidelines. Additionally, the order directs officials to recommend actions against foreign nationals, including student activists advocating for Palestine. This has sparked fears that the order could be used to target Palestinian rights supporters on student visas. Critics argue that the order has broader implications for various groups and raises questions about what it means to be American, as it emphasizes the need for assimilation and a unified American identity.\”
