By Anirudh Singla
Just when we thought that things couldnt go more cynical, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order that acted as a precursor to the official statement, in which the Muslim-dominated populace of seven countries were barred from entering the US for a period of 90 days. Adding further lac to the flame was the uncalled suspension of Americas ‘Refugee system’ for a period of 120 days. The US along with other affected countries found their silver lining in Boston Federal Courts ruling which has put the ban on hold for now.
Rafik Assi (C) and his daughters Mirna (L) and Malak attend a rally against a temporary travel ban signed by U.S. President Donald Trump in an executive order during a protest in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S., January 29, 2017. | Photo Courtesy: Christian Times[su_pullquote align=”right”]The Executive Order by President Trump to ban the citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries has unsettled the global community.[/su_pullquote]
Such drastic policy changes, especially in lieu to Immigration reforms have long haunted those planning to traverse the ‘Land of Opportunity’. Today, Trumps policies are being perceived as discriminatory by the global community. There are several examples that set precedence for the basis that the White House is not new to imposing radical immigration policy changes post a change of power.
Scanning the spectrum
US has historically had a habit of abruptly banning certain sections of the global society, beginning from the Chinese in the late 19th century, the Jews post World War II and even HIV patients by Reagan.
Gaping through a vast spectrum of over 135 years, the Chinese were the first on the list of immigration restrictions by the US. The Chinese Exclusion Act was signed by then US President Chester Arthur. A 10-year ban imposition had a tang of dissent towards the skilled and unskilled Chinese workforce employed in the mining sector. With unemployment threatening to dishevel the charade of Americas growing popularity as the primary promoter of capitalism, the need to fend off Chinese labor immigrants seemed pressing at the time. Deemed as harsh as the contemporaneous ‘Muslim ban’ by Trump, the ban eventually faded to oblivion post 1892.
The then US President Teddy Roosevelt was fatally wounded after being shot by Leon Czolgosz, who was an anarchist in ideology and Polish in descent. He then signed the Anarchist Exclusion Act. The act resounded a principal ban on anarchists and persons deemed as Political Extremists, from entering the soils of the States. Epilepsy carriers, importers of prostitutes and vagrants were later added to clauses of the ban.
In the “greater interest of the US Home land”, post World War II, restrictions were imposed on the inflow of the Jewish refugees and their instatement in the country. The admissibility was limited down to 26,000 persons annually.
Another example was the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis which escalated political tension as diplomatic relationships ceased to exist between Washington and Tehran. Iranians were banned from entering US soils, after the US embassy in Tehran was flounced and hostages were taken for over a year.
A US hostage outside the US embassy. President Jimmy Carter had ordered Iranian assets in US banks to be frozen and cut diplomatic ties with Iran in response to the hostage crisis. | Photo Courtesy: CNNMedical ethics and fundamental rights found themselves downtrodden, when in 1987, President Ronald Reagan banned HIV positive persons from entering the country. Dereliction of the fundamental principals, the US so proudly boasted of a very negative picture to the mass community. Barack Obama put an end to the ban, thus ushering in a fresh wave of acceptance.
Not again?
[su_pullquote align=”left”]This is not the first time that America has imposed constricted its soil in this manner.[/su_pullquote]
The above examples go on to explain how these drastic policy changes have impacted global citizens profoundly. This is not the first time that America has imposed constricted its soil in this manner. Time will tell whether this ban will sustain or be discarded for the greater good.
Featured Image Source: IB Times
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