Trump revokes Obama’s transgender rule on use of toilets

A guidance to US public schools that allowed transgender students to use toilets matching their gender identity, issued by former US President Barack Obama has been revoked by President Donald Trump.

However, the latest change by Trump will have no immediate impact, because Mr Obama’s directive has already been temporarily blocked by a judge in Texas since August.

The guidance, earlier issued by Obama, had been hailed as a victory for transgender rights but critics are of the opinion that it threatened other students’ privacy and safety, and should be decided at state level.

Read also: Probe into Trump’s travel ban likely, Washington attorney general says

Trump’s revoking of the transgender rule is coming days after the businessman turned politician sought to raise the bar on asylum as well as speeding deportations.

The US President liaised with the Department of Homeland Security to prepare new guidance for immigration agents aimed at speeding up deportations by denying asylum claims earlier in the process.

The Homeland Security Department has now been ordered in new guidelines, contained in a draft memo dated February 17 but not yet sent to field offices, to only pass applicants who have a good chance of ultimately getting asylum, but does not give specific criteria for establishing credible fear of persecution if sent home.

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