The Trump administration is contemplating imposing travel restrictions on citizens from a range of countries as part of a new ban. The memo outlines 41 countries categorized into different groups based on proposed visa suspensions or restrictions.
According to the memo seen by Reuters, the countries are subdivided into three clusters. The initial set of 10 countries, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, could face a complete visa suspension.
Additionally, a second group comprising five nations like Eritrea, Haiti, and Myanmar could encounter partial suspensions affecting tourist, student, and certain immigrant visas with exceptions allowed.
A third group involving 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, may undergo a partial suspension of US visa issuance unless deficiencies are addressed within 60 days, as per the memo.
The administration, along with officials like US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has yet to finalize the list, with a possibility of amendments. This development stems from an executive order issued on 20 January mandating enhanced security vetting for foreign individuals entering the US to mitigate national security risks. Cabinet members were directed to compile a list of countries warranting partial or full visa suspension due to inadequate vetting and screening mechanisms.
