With a stroke of a pen, President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending the US’ refugee programme on Friday. <br /><br /> The action imposes strict controls on travellers from several, mainly Muslim, countries for at least 90 days until so called ‘‘extreme vetting’‘ procedures can be put in place. <br /><br /> The ban, though temporary, took effect immediately, causing havoc and confusion for would-be travellers with passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. <br /><br /> Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely until further notice. <br /><br /> Tech giant Google is already reported to have recalled travelling staff back to the US following the measure, fearing they may not be allowed back into the US. <br /><br /> Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani condemned the move. <br /><br /> “Today is not a time for building walls between nations. They (the US) have forgotten that the Berlin Wall collapsed years ago.”<br /><br /> France and Germany also voiced disquiet over Trump’s measure, while the UN’s Refugee Agency and the International Organisation for Migration released a joint statement urging the US to uphold its long tradition of protecting those fleeing conflict. <br /><br /> But Trump, who fulfills a key election pledge by signing the order, has said it will keep Americans safe from potential Islamic terrorists. <br /><br /> Earlier, in New York, around 100 demonstrators formed a human chain outside the Federal Building to voice their opposition to the move.<br />
