US Considers New Travel Ban Affecting 43 Countries
Draft proposal outlines restrictions including a total ban on certain nations and conditional travel policies for others.
The Biden administration is reportedly finalizing a decision for a new travel ban that would restrict entry into the United States for citizens from 43 countries, marking a broader scope than previous versions enacted during Donald Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021.
The proposed regulations categorize these nations into three distinct lists.
The 'red list' consists of 11 countries, which would face an outright ban on their citizens entering the United States.
These countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Additionally, the draft, revealed in a recent report, features an 'orange list' of 10 countries, which would be subjected to travel restrictions but not completely barred from sending citizens.
These nations are Belarus, Eritrea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
In this category, wealthy business travelers might be granted entry, while those seeking immigration or tourist visas would face additional scrutiny and mandatory personal interviews.
Furthermore, the draft outlines a 'yellow list' containing 22 countries that will have 60 days to address deficiencies regarding information sharing with the United States concerning incoming travelers, security measures in passport issuance, and the sale of citizenship to nationals from banned countries.
Notable countries on this list include Chad, Mauritania, Cambodia, Cameroon, Angola, Gambia, the Republic of Congo, and Liberia, among others.
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the intention to deny visas to foreign visitors suspected of supporting terrorism.
An executive order initially issued by Trump provided the State Department with a 60-day deadline to compile this list, indicating a submission is expected next week.
In its statement, the State Department reiterated its commitment to national security and public safety, emphasizing adherence to high standards through the visa process.
The travel ban policy under Trump originated during his electoral campaign in December 2015 and saw implementation upon his inauguration in January 2017, initially focusing on a group of primarily Muslim-majority nations but later expanding to include several low-income countries, including those from Africa.
When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he rescinded the travel ban and reintroduced an individual vetting system for persons from affected countries.
Trump's January executive order justified the measures as necessary to protect American citizens from foreign entities intending to commit terrorist acts or threaten national security.
It remains unclear whether individuals holding valid visas will be exempted from the new travel restrictions, or whether their visas will be revoked.
The impact on green card holders who have been approved for permanent residency is also uncertain.
Some countries on the red and orange lists have previously faced sanctions under Trump's travel bans, but several countries featured in the new proposal are classified differently based on their current circumstances.
The proposed regulations categorize these nations into three distinct lists.
The 'red list' consists of 11 countries, which would face an outright ban on their citizens entering the United States.
These countries include Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Additionally, the draft, revealed in a recent report, features an 'orange list' of 10 countries, which would be subjected to travel restrictions but not completely barred from sending citizens.
These nations are Belarus, Eritrea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
In this category, wealthy business travelers might be granted entry, while those seeking immigration or tourist visas would face additional scrutiny and mandatory personal interviews.
Furthermore, the draft outlines a 'yellow list' containing 22 countries that will have 60 days to address deficiencies regarding information sharing with the United States concerning incoming travelers, security measures in passport issuance, and the sale of citizenship to nationals from banned countries.
Notable countries on this list include Chad, Mauritania, Cambodia, Cameroon, Angola, Gambia, the Republic of Congo, and Liberia, among others.
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the intention to deny visas to foreign visitors suspected of supporting terrorism.
An executive order initially issued by Trump provided the State Department with a 60-day deadline to compile this list, indicating a submission is expected next week.
In its statement, the State Department reiterated its commitment to national security and public safety, emphasizing adherence to high standards through the visa process.
The travel ban policy under Trump originated during his electoral campaign in December 2015 and saw implementation upon his inauguration in January 2017, initially focusing on a group of primarily Muslim-majority nations but later expanding to include several low-income countries, including those from Africa.
When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he rescinded the travel ban and reintroduced an individual vetting system for persons from affected countries.
Trump's January executive order justified the measures as necessary to protect American citizens from foreign entities intending to commit terrorist acts or threaten national security.
It remains unclear whether individuals holding valid visas will be exempted from the new travel restrictions, or whether their visas will be revoked.
The impact on green card holders who have been approved for permanent residency is also uncertain.
Some countries on the red and orange lists have previously faced sanctions under Trump's travel bans, but several countries featured in the new proposal are classified differently based on their current circumstances.
