Malcolm Turnbull Says Aussies With Dual Citizenship Will Be Exempt From Trump Travel Ban

Malcolm Turnbull assures dual nationality Australians the United States has promised to exempt them from the temporary visa ban imposed by Donald Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump has placed a 90-day ban on immigration from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States. The countries affected include Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Initially, there were fears the ban would inhibit Australian dual citizens—from the seven countries—from travelling to the U.S. However, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he has been assured by the White House and Australia’s Ambassador in Washington DC, Joe Hockey, that Aussies will be exempt from the ban.

More than 110,000 Australian residents were born in one of the seven majority-Muslim countries implicated in Trump’s executive order on immigration. Their ability to travel to the U.S. was in doubt until Foreign Minister Julie Bishop instructed diplomats to secure an exemption.

The United Kingdom and Canada have both announced their dual citizens will also be exempt from the policy.

Turnbull has been put on blast for refusing to comment on Trump’s immigration policy. He said: “It’s not my job as Prime Minister of Australia to run a commentary on the domestic policies of other countries.” Instead, the PM has tweeted about the government’s “well known” commitment to multiculturalism and non-discriminatory immigration.

Meanwhile, Treasurer Scott Morrison has expressed empathy for Trump, saying his ban indicates “the world is catching up” to Australia’s harsh deterrence policies.

Labor leader Bill Shorten has decried the relative silence on the matter from the Liberal government; he has called for leadership.

France, Germany, the UK, New Zealand and many others have distanced themselves from Trump’s policy.

Photo: Facebook (@DonaldTrump and @malcolmturnbull)