Donald Trump has signed a new executive order banning people from six Muslim countries.
His original ban led to chaos as people with green cards and visas found themselves caught up in it.
The revised ban will temporarily halt entry to the US for people from six Muslim-majority nations who are seeking new visas.
It will allow those with current visas to travel freely.
The new order also removes Iraq from the list of countries affected given Iraq’s role in fighting Isis, a move welcomed by the country.
There is also no indefinite suspension for Syrian refugees who will now face the same 120 day ban handed to all refugees
The new version removes language that would give priority to religious minorities. Critics had accused the administration of adding such language to help Christians get into the United States while excluding Muslims.
The order suspends immigration from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days.
Unlike the first order the second executive ban will not be implemented immediately to try and avoid the disruption caused for some travellers.Refugees who are ‘in transit’ and have already been approved are able to travel to the United States, but new refugees will not be approved.
The new order aims to address legal issues with the original, which caused confusion at airports, sparked protests around the country and was ultimately blocked by federal courts.
Trump privately signed the new order today, while Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Attorney General Jeff Sessions formally unveiled it.
The low-key rollout was a contrast to the first version of the order, signed in a high-profile ceremony at the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes as Secretary of Defense James Mattis stood by Trump’s side.
University of Texas law professor Stephen Vladeck said the order’s continued focus on Muslim-majority countries still leaves the appearance that the order is a ‘Muslim ban’.
He said: ‘There’s still going to be plenty of work for the courts to do.’
