The Trump administration is reviewing a new travel ban that could restrict entry for citizens of up to 43 countries, officials said. The proposed ban, still in draft form, is broader than the one imposed during Trump’s first term.
The draft list categorizes countries into three levels. The ‘red’ list includes 11 countries whose citizens would be completely barred from entering the U.S., including Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
Draft List of Proposed Travel Ban Countries
The ‘orange’ list of 10 countries would face restricted travel, with only affluent business travelers allowed on visas. This includes Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
The ‘yellow’ list includes 22 countries given 60 days to comply with U.S. security and immigration standards or risk further restrictions.
READ: Trump may issue travel ban barring Pakistani citizens from entering US: Reuters
That list, the officials said, included Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.
The draft proposal is being reviewed by the State Department, Homeland Security, and intelligence agencies, with potential changes before it reaches the White House.
As per the New York Times report, the countries included in the red and orange categories are generally Muslim-majority or nonwhite, poor, and have governments that are considered weak or corrupt.
However, the reason for several other countries being included in the list was not immediately clear.
Officials did not clarify whether the ban would apply to existing visa holders or green card residents. The inclusion of Bhutan and Russia surprised analysts, as Bhutan has no known security threats, and Trump has aimed to improve U.S.-Russia relations.
The State Department declined to comment but previously stated it is committed to national security and strict visa policies. The administration argues the ban is necessary to prevent potential security threats, while critics see it as discriminatory and politically motivated.
