AFP, NEW YORK: Donald Trump faced fresh protests Monday over his ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries entering the United States, a backlash that poses an enormous test for his administration.
The measures, introduced just a week after he took office, have been criticized by allies, caused confusion among border guards and galvanized Democrats looking for a way to bash Trump.
There was also growing unease among Republican lawmakers to the move.
Four federal judges moved to halt deportations, around 300 people were stopped or detained worldwide and US civil rights lawyers warned the battle could head to the Supreme Court.
A petition against Trump in Britain—demanding that his planned state visit, announced during Prime Minister Theresa May’s trip to Washington, be cancelled—has topped one million signatures.
The European Union also vowed to ensure its citizens were not affected by any “discrimination” caused by the ban.
Thousands of noisy demonstrators poured into major airports on Sunday, showing support for immigrants and refugees affected by the US president’s contentious travel restrictions.
“I just hope that we can pass this difficult period while maintaining our values as a country,” said Saif Rahman, a 38-year-old Iraqi-born US citizen who was called in for additional screening after flying into Dulles airport, near Washington DC.
An executive order signed by Trump on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees for a minimum of 120 days, Syrian refugees indefinitely and bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days.
While Trump cited the September 11, 2001 attacks in explaining his move, none of the hijackers’ home countries—Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—were included in the measure. All of those nations are US allies.
Lawyers accompanied by interpreters set up shop in airports and fought for the release of those detained on arrival—many were mid-flight when Trump signed the decree.
At least 109 people were held upon arrival to the United States despite holding valid visas. It is unclear how many are still detained.
Top Trump aides downplayed the number as “a couple of dozen” as Canada said it would offer temporary residence to those stranded in the country by the ban.
Trump, a property tycoon who has never previously held elected office, sees himself making good on a key but highly controversial campaign promise to subject travelers from Muslim-majority countries to “extreme vetting”.
Such steps would make America safe from “radical Islamic terrorists” he said.
He issued an official White House statement to deny it was a Muslim ban and blasted the media.
“To be clear, this is not a Muslim ban, as the media is falsely reporting. This is not about religion—this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” he said.
The petition in Britain, however, underscored anger at Trump’s invitation to meet Queen Elizabeth II later this year.
Trump’s “well-documented misogyny and vulgarity disqualifies him” from meeting the queen, it said.
And at the opening of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa feelings also ran high.