Donald Trump at the 2017 Conservative Political Action conference.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Trump administration is weighing broad travel restrictions on citizens from 41 countries, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.
The proposed ban, which is still under review, would divide affected nations into three categories with varying levels of visa suspensions.
Trump’s list of travel restrictions
The first group, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, would face a full visa suspension.
The second group, consisting of Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan, would see partial restrictions on tourist, student, and immigrant visas. The third group consists of 26 countries, like Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan. These countries also could face suspensions if they fail to address security concerns within 60 days.
Speaking anonymously, an official of the Trump administration said that the list is not final and can have changes. Furthermore, the list is subject to approval by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
A controversial policy
The move echoes Trump’s 2017 travel ban on several majority Muslim countries, a policy that was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order requiring stricter security vetting for foreign nationals. The order mandates a review by March 21 to determine which countries have inadequate screening procedures.
The White House has framed the policy as a necessary step for national security. Critics, however, see it as part of Trump’s broader immigration crackdown. The State Department has not yet commented on the proposal.
