Why Trump's Travel Ban Is Unjustified

Last Thursday, a modified version of President Trump's controversial travel ban went into effect, meaning travelers from six primarily Muslim nations and all refugees face tougher entry to the United States. While exceptions may be made for people with a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with somebody living in the US, some might have their visas denied if they cannot prove they have "close" family or business relationships.

The president has insisted that the new rule is vital for US national security, citing terrorist attacks across Europe as the main reason for its implementation. The countries affected by it are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. A study from the Cato Institute shows that the travel ban is still unjustified in its current form. They found that between 1975 and 2015, no nationals from any of the banned six countries were responsible for committing a fatal terrorist act on American soil.

This is backed up by research from the New America Foundation who found that no fatal attacks since 9/11 can be attributed to jihadist terrorists from the six restricted nations. In fact, since 9/11, 13 American citizens and legal permanent residents were responsible for fatal jihadist attacks. The Cato Institute also found that the chances of an American being killed by a refugee terrorist are one in 3.6 billion a year.