Hajra Naz
A State Department cable reviewed by Reuters shows that the Trump White House is weighing the addition of another thirty-six nations to its travel blacklist.
New Restrictions Citing National Security
This comes after an executive order blocked entry from 12 countries. It happened earlier this month. Officials say the new ban aims to guard against “foreign terrorist threats.” It’s also meant to enforce U.S. national security rules.
Countries That Could Be Affected
The countries possibly facing restrictions include
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Africa: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
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Asia: Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Syria
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Oceania: Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
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Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe
These countries could face full or partial U.S. entry bans. They must meet security and document rules within 60 days. If not, travel restrictions will be put in place.
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Why These Countries?
The internal cable cited several concerns:
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Weak identity verification systems
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Unsecured or unreliable passports
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Poor cooperation with U.S. deportation efforts
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Potential links to terrorism or hostile activities against the U.S.
Building on an Existing Ban
This proposed expansion would build on an earlier ban that already included countries such as
- Afghanistan
- Myanmar
- Iran.
The revised travel ban would be among the most extensive limitations in recent U.S. immigration policy if it were to be put into effect.
