Trump travel ban may affect thousands of Swiss dual nationals

Confusion reigns in Switzerland surrounding the thousands of people with dual citizenship who may be affected by United States President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban. A foreign ministry helpline has reportedly received numerous calls.

Last week, Trump issued an executive order that put a temporary ban on allowing refugees into the country, an indefinite ban on refugees from Syria, and a 90-day ban on citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Trump says tougher vetting of immigrants is needed to protect America from terror attacks.The measure has been met with widespread incredulity and confusion.

It is unclear to what extent the ban applies to dual nationals – those who hold one passport from a country on the list and another from a non-US country that is not – and which countries are affected. Australia, Canada and Britain have all won exemptions for their dual citizens.

No such measure currently exists for Swiss dual citizens potentially affected. According to Federal Statistical Office data, this measure could affect thousands of Swiss dual nationals. Between 1991 and 2015, 12,657 citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen have obtained Swiss nationality.

The spokesman for the Swiss foreign ministry said it was trying to obtain more details on the executive order, and was in close contact with the US embassy in Switzerland protect the interests of Swiss dual nationals.

A foreign ministry spokesman said it could not say whether these dual nationals could enter the US, adding that the responsibility and application of this measure lay with the US authorities.

Working on it

The US embassy in Switzerland told Swiss public radio, RTS, that it was “working on an official statement but it was not ready yet”. The US State department also promised to clarify the situation.

Since the announcement of Trump’s controversial ban, the Swiss foreign ministry’s travel helpline has received numerous calls from dual nationals and other Swiss residents.

“We have no information on people blocked in Switzerland,” the foreign ministry spokesperson told Swiss News Agency ATS.

Swiss International Air Lines has said it would bar citizens of seven countries from boarding its flights to the US as it has “a legal obligation to implement this decree”. Companies that do not comply may have to repatriate the nationals from those countries at their own expense in addition to paying a fine.

Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter has described the ban as discriminatory and contrary to fundamental rights, warning that it “clearly goes in the wrong direction”.