Trump Administration Considers Travel Ban Affecting 43 Countries
The Trump administration is considering a travel ban affecting citizens from 43 nations, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, categorizing countries into Red, Orange, and Yellow lists. The Red List indicates a full visa suspension, while the Orange List entails restricted travel. The proposal bears similarities to previous travel bans enacted during Trump’s first term.
The Donald Trump administration is reportedly contemplating a new travel ban affecting citizens from approximately 43 nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia, according to a report by The New York Times. Security officials have put forth a draft recommending categorization of these countries into three distinct groups: Red, Orange, and Yellow. Countries on the Red List would face a complete travel ban into the United States.
Pakistan and Russia have been classified within the “Orange List,” which encompasses ten nations facing travel restrictions rather than an outright ban. While affluent business travelers from these countries might gain entry, restrictions would apply to immigrant and tourist visa applicants, who would also be subject to mandatory in-person interviews.
Among the others listed in the “Orange List” are Myanmar, Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan. The draft categorizes another ten countries, including Afghanistan and Bhutan, on the Red List, indicating a potential full suspension of their citizens’ visas. Additional countries on the Red List comprise Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, as reported by The New York Times.
Furthermore, a Yellow List of 22 nations is proposed, which would grant these countries a 60-day period to rectify perceived deficiencies. If they fail to comply, they risk being classified under stricter categories. Concerns include insufficient information sharing with the United States regarding incoming travelers, inadequate security practices for passport issuance, and the potential selling of citizenship to individuals from banned nations.
Countries on the Yellow List include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu, and Zimbabwe.
This proposed travel ban would mark the second occasion where Donald Trump imposes such restrictions, following previous efforts in his first term that limited entry from seven predominantly Muslim nations. The former ban underwent multiple changes before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018, targeting individuals from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, as noted by Al Jazeera.
In conclusion, the Trump administration’s proposed travel ban categorizes a total of 43 countries into three distinct groups, namely Red, Orange, and Yellow. Citizens from countries on the Red List could face a complete visa suspension, while those on the Orange List would endure travel restrictions and mandatory interviews for visa applications. The administration looks to enforce stricter regulations aimed at enhancing national security, an initiative reminiscent of previous travel bans.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
