President Donald Trump's controversial revised executive order temporarily banning travel from six Muslim-majority countries went into effect Thursday night.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the ban in a decision Monday but could make a final ruling on it after a full appeal when it reconvenes later this year.
In an effort to avoid a chaotic rollout-similar to what occurred when Trump signed his initial order back on Jan. 27-the U.S. State Department issued new guidelines designed to clarify which people will be impacted by the 90-day ban on travelers and the 120-day ban on refugees.
Under the new rules, citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen will be denied visas unless able to prove a close family relationship in the U.S. or a connection with a school or business.
According to The Washington Post, the Trump administration's new criteria do not allow grandparents, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins or extended family from the six countries to enter the U.S.
However, parents, spouses, fiances, children, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, siblings, half-siblings and stepchildren are approved.
Hawaii-the first state to file a lawsuit against Trump's executive order-challenged the ban almost immediately Thursday night, asking a federal judge to prevent the ban from being enforced.
"The Government does not have discretion to ignore the Court's injunction as it sees fit," lawyers for the state wrote in a court filing. "The State of Hawaii is entitled to the enforcement of the injunction that it has successfully defended, in large part, up to the Supreme Court-one that protects the State's residents and their loved ones from an illegal and unconstitutional Executive Order."
Many lawyers and immigration advocates have gathered at major airports across the country and plan to remain there over the coming days to monitor the ban's reinstatement and to assist affected travelers.
Ameena Qazi, the executive director of the Los Angeles branch of the National Lawyer's Guild, told NBC News the ban's impact was most likely to be felt overseas where travelers could be denied visas at consulates.
[READMORE] READ MORE: SCOTUS Unanimously Upholds Trump Travel Ban [/READMORE]
"It will be business as usual for us," an unidentified senior U.S. official told the Post. "We expect things to run smoothly, and our people are well-prepared for this and they will handle the entry of people with visas professionally, respectfully and responsibly, as they have always done, with an eye toward ensuring that the country is protected from persons looking to travel here to do harm."
In an announcement on its website, the State Department said it would begin implementing the order at consulates and embassies abroad Thursday night and does not plan to cancel any previously scheduled visa application appointments.
"We will keep those traveling to the U.S. and partners in the travel industry informed as we implement the order in a professional, organized, and timely way," said the State Department.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
