Trump Administration Considers New Travel Restrictions
The Trump administration is exploring the possibility of implementing extensive travel restrictions for citizens from numerous countries, as revealed by sources familiar with internal discussions and a memo obtained by Reuters. This memo outlines a total of 41 nations organized into three distinct categories.
The first category consists of ten countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea. Citizens from these nations would face a complete suspension of visa issuance.
In the second category, five countries—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—would experience partial visa suspensions. This would affect tourist, student, and various immigrant visas, although some exceptions may apply.
The third category includes a total of 26 countries, such as Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, which could be subject to partial visa issuance suspensions. This action would depend on whether these governments take prompt measures to address identified deficiencies within a 60-day timeframe, according to the memo.
A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the list may undergo changes and has yet to receive the administration’s approval, including the endorsement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The New York Times was the first to report on this list of countries.
This prospective move echoes the controversial travel ban enacted during President Donald Trump’s initial term, which targeted travelers from seven majority-Muslim nations. That policy faced numerous revisions before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating enhanced security vetting for foreigners seeking entry into the US, aimed at identifying potential national security threats. This directive instructed various cabinet members to compile a list of countries by March 21, from which travel should be partially or fully suspended due to inadequacies in their vetting and screening processes.
Trump’s latest directive is part of a broader immigration crackdown that he initiated at the onset of his second term. He outlined his intentions in an October 2023 speech, vowing to impose restrictions on individuals from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and any other regions deemed threatening to national security.
The State Department has yet to respond to requests for comments regarding this matter.
With contributions from various news wires.
