Brits with dual citizenship exempt from Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban

Thumbs up: Boris Johnson has clarified Brits with dual citizenship can enter the United States

Jamie Bullen30 January 2017

Brits with dual citizenship will be allowed to enter the United States, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

The US President’s administration told Boris Johnson that Britons who share nationality with one of the seven Muslim-majority countries are exempt from Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban.

But UK dual citizens travelling to the United States directly from one of the banned countries will face extra checks.

Mr Johnson was ordered to initiate urgent talks with his United States counterpart by Theresa May on Sunday as she faced growing anger over her failure to criticise Mr Trump over the policy.

US talks: Boris Johnson is involved in talks with Donald Trump's administration to ensure Brits are not affected by the travel ban

PA Wire

His officials later issued guidance about what the border clampdown means for the UK.

What did Donald Trump do in his first week as President?

The statement said:

The ban only applies to individuals travelling from one of the seven named countries - Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Travellers to the US from anywhere other than one of those countries will experience no extra checks regardless of nationality or place of birth.
UK nationals travelling from one of those countries are not included in the ban even if they were born in one of the affected states.
Dual citizens from one of the seven countries travelling to the US from outside those countries are not affected.
Dual nationals might have extra checks if they travel directly from one of the seven countries

Mrs May said last night she did “not agree” with the order signed by Mr Trump but refused to attack him directly when repeatedly questioned at a press conference in Ankara.

Downing Street said the move showed how seriously the Prime Minister was taking the issue with Home Secretary Amber Rudd also summoned to hold talks with US aides.

Mr Johnson branded President Trump's controversial policy "divisive and wrong", and criticised the decision to "stigmatise" people based on their nationality.

He said on Sunday: "We will protect the rights and freedoms of UK nationals home and abroad. Divisive and wrong to stigmatise because of nationality."

Citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries - Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - have been barred temporarily along with all refugees.

Nadhim Zahawi MP tells Andrew Marr how he feels about the Muslim ban on entering the US

The policy led some Brits to fear they would be banned from entering the country including Britain’s most decorated track-and-field Olympian Sir Mo Farah and Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi.

Thousands of demonstrators are planning to protest against the ban outside Downing Street and across the country on Monday from 6pm.

A march organised by a coalition of groups, including Stand Up to Racism and the Muslim Council of Britain, is due to begin at the US embassy next Saturday.