The Trump administration is considering broad travel restrictions for citizens from 41 countries as part of a new ban, according to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo reviewed by Reuters.
The memo categorizes the nations into three groups. The first group, consisting of 10 countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, would face a complete visa suspension. The second group, comprising Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would experience partial suspensions affecting tourist, student, and other immigrant visas, with certain exceptions. The third group, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan among 26 nations, risks partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance if their governments fail to address security deficiencies within 60 days.
A U.S. official, speaking anonymously, noted that the list is subject to change and has yet to receive final approval from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The New York Times first reported on the list.
The policy echoes Trump’s first-term travel ban on seven majority-Muslim nations, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. On January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating stricter security vetting for foreign travelers to identify national security threats. The directive requires a list of countries facing potential suspensions to be submitted by March 21 due to inadequate vetting procedures.
This initiative is part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown in his second term. He outlined the plan in an October 2023 speech, vowing to restrict individuals from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other regions deemed security threats.
Source: Swifteradio.com
