US: Trump adds Venezuela, DPRK and Chad to visa ban

US President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban on Monday, adding Venezuela, North Korea and Chad to the list.

Sudan was dropped from the original list of six countries slapped with US visa restrictions issued in March — dubbed the “Muslim ban” by Democratic Party opponents — joining Iraq which had been removed part way through the six-month decree.

The new list of countries made clear the restrictions were aimed at targets of US imperialism — on the pretext of non-cooperation on security checks or harbouring terrorists.

The original six nations on the ban, including Iran, Yemen, Libya and Somalia, were all originally suspended from the US visa waiver scheme for travellers by former president Barack Obama.

The restrictions on Venezuela apply only to government and security forces officials and not immigrants — exempting thousands of pro-opposition emigres flocking to Miami and other parts of the US.

With visitors from North Korea mostly limited to diplomatic staff — wh are exempt from the ban — its addition was largely symbolic.

While calling Chad “an important and valuable counterterrorism partner,” the order said it “does not adequately share public-safety and terrorism-related information” and has several terrorist groups including Boko Haram, Isis and al-Qaida active on its soil.

There was no immediate response from Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was on a visit to Cuba bringing a planeload of humanitarian aid in the wake of hurricane Irma.

But Bolivian President Evo Morales tweeted yesterday [MON]: “ In attacking Venezuela, Trump attacks Latin America and violates the charter of the OAS” — the Washington-based Organisation of American States.

“Venezuela’s politics are of internationalism, with solidarity and brotherhood,” Mr Morales wrote, “and not of interventionism and putschism.”

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