US Considering New Travel Ban on 43 Countries: Report

The Trump administration is reportedly considering a new travel ban that could affect citizens from 43 countries, imposing varying degrees of restrictions on entry to the United States. According to a report from The New York Times on Friday, the list is divided into three categories, with some countries facing complete bans and others facing limited visa restrictions.

The "red" category includes 11 countries whose citizens would be entirely prohibited from entering the US. These countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Another 10 nations fall under the "orange" category, where their citizens would experience severe limitations on travel. These countries—Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan—would see their visa issuance sharply restricted. However, The New York Times notes that business travelers from wealthier backgrounds may still be allowed entry, while immigrants and tourists would face barriers. Citizens from these nations would also be required to attend in-person visa interviews.

The third, "yellow" category includes 22 countries that would be given 60 days to address US concerns. If they fail to make progress, they could be moved to a more stringent category, potentially facing harsher restrictions.

The report also mentioned that the list, developed by the State Department several weeks ago, is still subject to change before it is finalized and presented to the White House.

This proposed travel ban follows in the footsteps of President Trump's earlier actions during his first term. Shortly after taking office, Trump froze the US refugee admissions program and significantly cut foreign aid. He also ordered the identification of countries whose nationals should be banned from entering the country on security grounds, an initiative that mirrored the controversial "Muslim ban" implemented in 2017.

The original version of the "Muslim ban" targeted citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, sparking widespread international protests and domestic legal challenges. While Iraq and Sudan were removed from the list, the Supreme Court upheld a revised version of the ban in 2018, which included North Korea and Venezuela.

The potential new travel restrictions could further strain relations between the US and several countries, with concerns about the human and diplomatic impact continuing to grow.