Trump Administration Proposes New Travel Ban Affecting 43 Countries

The Trump administration is considering a travel ban affecting 43 nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Russia. Countries will be categorized into Red, Orange, and Yellow lists, with varying restrictions. The Red List may impose full visa suspensions, while the Orange List includes travel limitations. The Yellow List nations face compliance scrutiny. This is the second travel ban under Trump’s administration, following earlier restrictions on Muslim-majority countries.

The Trump administration is deliberating a new travel ban affecting up to 43 nations, as reported by The New York Times, citing unnamed officials. The proposal involves categorizing countries into three tiers: Red, Orange, and Yellow. A country listed in the Red category would be subject to a complete travel ban to the United States.

Pakistan and Russia are designated as “Orange List” countries, which are facing travel restrictions rather than an outright ban. Ten nations comprise this list, which allows affluent business travelers some access while imposing in-person interview requirements for immigrant and tourist visa applicants. Other countries included in this category are Myanmar, Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Eritrea, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.

The draft report outlines that Afghanistan and Bhutan are part of the Red List, indicating a potential full visa suspension for their citizens. This Red List also encompasses Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Moreover, a “Yellow List” of 22 nations has been proposed, granting them 60 days to rectify certain deficiencies or risk being placed on the more restrictive lists. Problems cited might include lack of information sharing about incoming travelers, insufficient passport security measures, or the sale of citizenship to individuals from banned countries. Countries on this list include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, and several others.

This initiative represents the second instance of a travel ban implemented by Donald Trump, following similar restrictions during his first term against citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries, a policy confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2018. This previous travel ban affected citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

In conclusion, the proposed travel ban by the Trump administration seeks to categorize 43 countries into three lists with varying levels of restrictions. Pakistan and Russia make the Orange List, facing moderated travel requirements, while nations like Afghanistan are potentially placed under a full visa suspension as indicated in the Red List. The Yellow List grants countries an opportunity to address compliance issues to avoid stricter consequences. This proposal echoes Trump’s previous travel restrictions from his first term.

Original Source: www.business-standard.com