The United States said it will
deny visas to any individual involved in initiating investigations or
prosecutions against U.S. personnel at the International Criminal Court (ICC),
Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo announced on Friday.
Pompeo said that the goal of the
new policy, already being implemented, is to have the ICC change course with
regards to the U.S. and its allies, especially Israel, NAN reports
“Further measures, including
economic sanctions, could follow,’’ Pompeo warned.
He appeared to be referring in
particular to requests for investigations with regards to U.S. military actions
in Afghanistan.
“The ICC is attacking America’s
rule of law,’’ Pompeo said, adding that “it is not too late to change course
and we urge it to do so immediately”.
Pompeo described the ICC as an
organisation that has “broad, unaccountable” powers.
The U.S. top diplomat did not
disclose how many people are being affected by the new U.S. sanctions.
James Goldston, the executive
director of Open Society Justice Initiative, said the new sanctions would
undermine efforts to hold to account those responsible for the worst war
crimes.
“Secretary Pompeo’s remarks
reflect this Administration’s view that international law matters only when it
is aligned with U.S. national interests.
“But that’s not how law works,’’
he said on Twitter.
The ICC came into being in 2002
with over 120 members, including most European nations.
The U.S. is not a party to the
ICC, along with other major powers, including Russia and China.
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Although Donald Trump has stated he wants more people to come to America legally, in FY 2018 both immigrants and temporary visa applicants were much more likely to be denied a visa because of Trump administration visa policies. “Extreme vetting,” the Buy American and Hire American executive order and changes to “public charge” ineligibility in the State Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) have left more potential immigrants, travelers and others unable to enter America.
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