A narrower version of US President Donald Trump's controversial ban on travellers from six mainly Muslim countries has come into force.
Recent Immingrants join activists for an evening protest in Manhattan in the hours before the revised version of President Donald Trump's travel ban came into effect. Photo: AFP
It means people without close family or business relationships in the US could be denied visas and barred entry.
Who is affected?
- According to the new rules, for the next 90 days those from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen without a close family, business or study relationship will not be able to enter the US
- Close relationships include: Parents, spouses, children, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, siblings including step or half siblings.
- Not included: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and grandchildren.
- Also exempt from the new rules are those with business or educational ties to the US.
- The relationships must be formal, documented and not formed for the purpose of evading the order.
- Those who already hold valid visas are not affected. Dual nationals who travel on their passport from the unaffected country will also be allowed entry.
- The court also approved a 120-day ban on refugees entering the US, allowing the government to bar entry to refugee claimants who cannot prove the same ties to an American individual or entity.
Moments before the ban began at 8pm Washington time (midday in New Zealand), it emerged the state of Hawaii had asked a federal judge for clarification.
It has in the past accused the US government of violating the Supreme Court's instructions by improperly excluding people.
The Supreme Court partially upheld the ban earlier this week, while voting to hear the case in October.
The decision lifted injunctions that since February had halted one of the president's key election policies.
The court ruled that people seeking visas to travel to the US from the six restricted countries, and all refugees, would have to prove a "bona fide relationship" to someone in the country.
The Supreme Court is expected to make a final decision on the ban in October.
- BBC