Biden to rescind ban on Somalis upon swearing-in: White House Chief of Staff

President-elect Joe Biden will immediately revoke Trump’s order banning travellers from Muslim majority countries on his first day in office, US media reports.

According to Biden advisors quoted by US media, Biden will, upon being sworn into office rescind the ban which has subjected thousands of travellers from countries such as Somalia to restrictions including entry into the United States.

“These actions will change the course of COVID-19, combat climate change, promote racial equity and support other underserved communities, and rebuild our economy in ways that strengthen the backbone of this country: the working men and women who built our nation,” White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain wrote in a memo to new White House staff.

President Trump issued the first order restricting travel to the US by nationals of Muslim majority countries in January 2017.

Although the courts blocked most sections of the Executive Order, the Supreme Court upheld the third order (Presidential Proclamation 9645) in June 2018 retaining the ban on travellers from countries including Somalia.

The revocation of the order will be a major boon for Somalis who have been cut off from their families since the first order came into force in 2017