CALIFONIA: The President Donald Trump administration is weighing broad travel restrictions on citizens from 41 countries as part of a new immigration policy, according to Reuters, citing internal memos and sources.
The proposed ban categorizes the affected nations into three groups:
- Full Visa Suspension: Ten countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, may face a total ban on U.S. visas.
- Partial Suspension: Five nations—Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—could see restrictions on tourist, student, and some immigrant visas.
- Conditional Restrictions: Twenty-six countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, risk partial visa suspensions if they fail to address security concerns within 60 days.
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A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, noted that the list is not final and still requires approval from top administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
This move echoes Trump’s controversial first-term travel ban, which initially targeted seven majority-Muslim nations and was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order tightening security screenings for foreigners entering the U.S. The order mandates that by March 21, officials submit a list of countries with inadequate vetting processes for possible travel restrictions.
Trump, who initiated a strict immigration crackdown early in his second term, previewed these measures in an October 2023 speech. He vowed to restrict entry from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other regions deemed security threats.
