Trump travel ban to hit French dual citizens

By Hajer M'tiri

PARIS (AA) - French citizens with dual nationality for one of the seven Muslim-majority countries affected by new U.S. entry restrictions have been told not to attempt to travel to America, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed on Monday.

A statement to Anadolu Agency from the French authorities instructed its nationals who also hold passports from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Sudan or Yemen, not to travel to the U.S.

This includes those with ESTA -- an automated system that allows visitors to travel to the U.S. under a visa-waiver scheme, the statement added.

The news follows confusion in the U.K. on Monday after the American embassy in London cancelled appointments for British dual nationals who also hold passports from one of the seven selected countries.

This followed Sunday statements from the British Foreign Office that those dual nationals could still travel to the U.S.

France said on Monday those with a valid U.S. green card would also be affected by the new measures, although they should be allowed to enter the country after being interviewed, the statement added.

"Our contacts among the U.S. authorities are constantly working to clarify the impact of the new measures on all different categories of traveler," the French authorities said.

Air France stopped 15 people with passports from the seven specified countries from boarding U.S.-bound flights over the weekend, the airline said in a statement Monday.

Elsewhere, the executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump caused friction with European allies.

German Chancellor Merkel sharply criticized President Trump’s new entry restrictions.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin on Monday, the Chancellor said: "The necessary and resolute fight against terrorism, in no way justifies general suspicion leveled against persons of a particular faith, in this case persons of the Islamic faith, or persons of a certain origin.

"In my view, this procedure contradicts the fundamentals of international assistance for refugees, as well as international cooperation,” she added.

The German leader promised legal assistance to citizens who hold such dual nationality and who would be affected by the U.S. ban. She said German authorities had also been in close contact with their European partners on the matter.

*Ayhan Simsek contributed to this report from Berlin.