US President Donald Trump’s administration has drafted new travel ban proposal targeting citizens from 43 countries. This proposed restriction reportedly stricter than previous bans, has yet to be finalized but has raised concerns among experts.
The proposed ban is divided into three categories:
- First Tier: Citizens from 11 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Yemen, face a complete travel ban.
- Second Tier (Orange List): Partial restrictions are suggested for citizens from 10 countries, such as Pakistan, Myanmar, Russia, and Belarus. These restrictions would limit entry to specific types of travelers only.
- Third Tier (Yellow List): Citizens from 22 nations, including Angola, Cambodia, Liberia, and Zimbabwe, are given a warning. These countries must address security deficiencies within set timeframe or risk stricter bans.
Draft proposal is currently under review by several US agencies with the State Department’s Consular Affairs Bureau leading the assessment. Department of Justice Homeland Security and intelligence agencies are also involved.
Authorities cited concerns about weak security systems insufficient information sharing, and suspicious citizenship sales in listed countries as reasons for the proposed ban.
Uncertainty remains regarding how the ban would affect current visa holders and green card holders. The final report expected to be published next week.
Analysts suggest this move may strain diplomatic relations especially since many targeted countries are Muslim-majority nations or have unstable administrative frameworks. Some new countries have also been added to this proposed list further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
