Outraged Americans have taken to social media to condemn what has been called a de facto “Muslim ban”.
This comes after President Trump signed an executive order on Saturday suspending visas for visitors from seven Muslim-majority countries, as well as temporarily preventing the entry of all refugees.
The four-month-long measure caused chaos and confusion as it came into effect with reports of travellers, including green card holders and dual nationals, being turned away from flights across the Middle East. A decision by a federal judge in New York may have prevented the deportation of a number of individuals detained at airports, but the ban itself remains in place.
Activists from across the world have flooded social media with their opposition, using the hashtag “no Muslim ban”.
Some campaigners have shared the stories of those denied their rights simply because of their national identity, including a brilliant Iranian student at MIT with a valid visa who will be prevented from completing her studies:
And a family who had already be granted refuge in America, who will now be forced to find an alternative:
As well as Iraqis fresh from fleeing Daesh:
Iraqi Yazidis - among the biggest ISIS victims - denied boarding on US-bound flights despite visas. Cleared Iraqi refugees also barred.
— jane arraf (@janearraf) January 28, 2017
Bloggers attempted to undermine the bill by sharing details of how those affected could get help:
Others have posted about the protests that sprung up at airports across America, demanding that refugees be admitted to the country:
I'm 20 minutes from landing at JFK. Pilot just warned us about delays due to #NoBan protests at T4.
The passengers' response?
Applause.— John Paul Farmer (@johnpaulfarmer) January 29, 2017
Protestors chanting #RefugeesWelcome here, as they block entrance into #jfk terminal 4 #nomuslimbanjfk #muslimban pic.twitter.com/kHNGGE3Ai0
— Lucky Tran (@luckytran) January 29, 2017
High-profile figures have also tweeted their outrage at what many see as a discriminatory and outrageous move, including former presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton:
I stand with the people gathered across the country tonight defending our values & our Constitution. This is not who we are.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 29, 2017
Former British Labour party leader, Ed Miliband:
PM's refusal to condemn Trump Muslim ban is shocking, wrong and cannot stand. It flies in the face of the values of people across Britain.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) January 28, 2017
Some international politicians have even suggested that those refugees refused by America can come to their countries, including Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau:
#WelcometoScotland too. https://t.co/ICmmBgr8Rf
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) January 28, 2017
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
Even Twitter itself expressed support for immigrants to America.
Twitter is built by immigrants of all religions. We stand for and with them, always.
While the new rules apply to residents of other religions in the affected nations, the order has been characterized as a “Muslim ban” because it targets solely Muslim-majority countries. Trump himself said in a recent television interview that he would prioritize Christian refugees from Syria.
The new president had previously called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.”
RA
