News broke last night that with the stroke of a pen, U.S. President Donald Trump had blocked immigrants from a number of predominantly Muslim nations and halted the flow of refugees into the United States. Now Iran has responded by stating it will block all Americans from crossing its borders.
The Flow of Refugees Halted, Immigration Curbed
Via Executive Order, President Trump honored a campaign promise to–
- suspend entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days
- bar Syrian refugees indefinitely
- block entry into the United States for 90 days for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries
- Iran
- Iraq
- Libya
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Yemen
Some in the groups above were already in transit to the USA and turned away at the border. Several passengers were reportedly denied boarding on an EgyptAir flight this morning from Cairo to New York. A handful of families have now been separated.
Iran Responds
Iran is the first nation to respond and not surprisingly, has announced plans to ban Americans from its border. Calling the President’s plan an “open affront against the Muslim world and the Iranian nation”, the Foreign Ministry has said it will retaliate.
What Does This Mean for Travelers?
I’ll leave the politics to others, but am interested in what this news means for travelers. As we see with reciprocal visa fees, countries tend to respond tit for tat to barriers to entry. Will Americans soon be banned from much of the Islamic world?
If you happen to be traveling to any of the nations implicated by the President’s Executive Order with a U.S. passport, be ready to face more intense scrutiny at passport control, the potential denial of visas, or outright blocks…as we will soon see in the Islamic Republic.
Global politics has an acute effect on travelers who often get caught in the middle of diplomatic rifts. We become pawns used as bargaining chips and my point is this: traveling to many foreign lands may become more tedious and in some cases impossible for Americans in the coming months and years. Prepare yourselves.
And so much for IranAir resuming service to the USA anytime soon…
> Read More: A Spur of the Moment Trip to the Islamic Republic of Iran
My visa paperwork had just been submitted for the Tehran Marathon so I guess that is one race I am not running this year!
Obviously, they are doing this just to make a point because there are so few Americans that go there already that it is not going to make an impact (except for me! 🙂
Maybe they’ll make an exception for you! I hope so.
While IR still flies the A300B4 in the photos, I’d assume the Northwest plane in the background would have received a new paint job by now 🙂
Great ! It’s not like these countries are making their own citizens pay for illegal aliens (from USA) the health , food, cash benefits. If they do, I’ll cringe, but it’s the own way so great job Trump!
Oh no, what a tragedy! Who will Iran arrest and hold for ransom now?
Hm, I wonder whats going to happen to the americans monitoring the nuclear deal ? I would guess Iran can just go ahead with what it is they where doing.
Well, if we’re honest, they’re probably a bunch more countries that need to be on that list . . . Maybe any country that has a dry airline?
Matthew,
After this news, do you still want to travel to Syria?
If you remember, at the New Year, when you made your resolutions, I suggested you not go to Syria. You have suggested that Syria was a major goal for you. I am wondering: Does this act by Trump make you reconsider?
I do, Alan. I likely will not be able to, but now more than ever I’d like to.