The Trump administration is contemplating a step that might increase the count of nations subjected to this measure almost threefold.
travel ban
According to a State Department memo acquired by NPR, up to 36 more countries might be included.
the list of 19
those that had been previously subjected to complete or partial limitations earlier this month.
A memorandum sent to diplomats across roughly two dozen African nations, as well as those stationed in Central Asia, the Caribbean, and various Pacific island states, requires them to specify by this coming Wednesday how they plan to tackle US concerns and adhere to updated guidelines from the State Department.
Signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the memorandum, initially revealed by
The Washington Post,
states that 36 nations have been pinpointed for having “vetting and screening data [that] is inadequate enough to justify a partial or complete halt” to the admission of their residents into the U.S. This action represents the most recent step in President Donald Trump’s stringent approach towards immigration, which encompasses widespread deportations targeting individuals who are either alleged or found guilty of criminal behavior along with others.
The memorandum states that certain countries are labeled as
state sponsors of terror
Some of these nations or their residents have reportedly “engaged in terrorist activities within the U.S.” Others may not possess a valid “official governmental system capable of generating trustworthy identification papers,” maintain inconsistent crime registries, or face issues such as “pervasive state-level deception,” states the memorandum. Additional worries encompass allegations that certain countries exhibit elevated instances of visa violations, or individuals associated with “hostile actions against Jewish people or anti-U.S. sentiments” on American soil. Nations failing to resolve these matters might find themselves facing potential restrictions from traveling to the U.S., possibly starting as early as August.
“Restricting access for people coming from certain nations will aid in securing the American homeland and making our communities safer,” stated Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin in an NPR interview.
The memorandum additionally states that foreign governments must be “fully cooperative” in expelling foreign individuals when doing so is crucial for U.S. national security. The document further indicates that particular worries the U.S. might have about a certain nation could potentially be addressed if that country agrees to take in deportees from the U.S. whose home countries do not accept them back.
McLaughlin stated this crucial measure aims at securing collaboration with foreign administrations for accepting repatriation flights of their nationals, bolstering national safety, and aiding in restoring credibility to the immigration framework.
However, critics of the travel restrictions argue
railed against
President Trump’s prior bans were viewed as racially and religiously prejudiced because they targeted numerous countries with significant African and Muslim populations.
The nations mentioned in the memorandum as subject to potential bans include: Angola; Antigua and Barbuda; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Cape Verde; Cambodia; Cameroon; Ivory Coast; Democratic Republic of Congo; Djibouti; Dominica; Ethiopia; Egypt; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Kyrgyzstan; Liberia; Malawi; Mauritania; Niger; Nigeria; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; São Tomé and Príncipe; Senegal; South Sudan; Syria; Tanzania; Tonga; Tuvalu; Uganda; Vanuatu; Zambia; and Zimbabwe.
Countries that have been completely prohibited as of June 4 include: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Nations with partial restrictions encompass Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
During his initial term, Trump prohibited travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations, though this directive was later overturned during the Biden administration’s tenure.
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