Popular protests across US, as 'Muslim Ban' opposition grows

Demonstrations remained ongoing in a number of US cities on Sunday as thousands gather in protest against controversial travel bans implemented by US President Donald Trump banning nationals from seven Muslim majority countries from entering the United States.

Protestors gathered at airport terminals in a number of cities from the early hours of Sunday morning with large crowds also massing in public spaces in New York's Battery Park, at the steps of the Trump International hotel in Washington DC, at Boston's Copley Square, and elsewhere, as popular opposition to the ban both inside the US and globally grows.

During protests, demonstrators carried signs expressing solidarity with refugees carrying messages reading "Humanity Calling", "Refugees Welcome", and "Make America Kind Again".

Chants sung at such gatherings expressed condemnation of Trump's ruling, calling on the US President to "do your job".

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Under the sweeping order, which has already begun to be implemented by US border officials, nationals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen have been barred from entering the country.

Trump has said that the measures are aimed at curbing immigration and tightening security in order to clamp down on potential terror threats.

However, eyebrows have been raised at the ommision of Muslim-majority countries from the list with which Trump is thought to have strong business interests, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

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Turkey and Egypt - both of which endured high-profile terror attacks throughout 2016 - were also omitted from Trump's list.

Speaking on Sunday, as protestors gathered, Trump defended the ban.

In a post on Twitter the billionaire real estate tycoon turned president wrote that the US required "strong borders and extreme vetting, NOW" adding that if such measures were not adopted the movement of refugees and foreign nationals into the US could lead the country to become "a horrible mess" drawing comparisons with "what is happening all over Europe and, indeed, the world."

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States affected expressed condemnation of the ban on Sunday with Sudan summoning the US Charge d'Affaires in the country to Khartoum, Iraqi politicians said to be mulling "reciprocating" Trump's travel ban - a line also adopted by Iran, with the Arab League also expressing "deep concern".

Within the US both Republican and Democrat lawmakers, lawyers, civil society groups, members of the tech industry, celebrities, and US Army veterans have taken part in demonstrations and added their voices to a growing number of objectors to the ban over the weekend.

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