Trump Considers Suspension Of Visa 41 Countries From Afghanistan To Belarus

UNSPLASH/Frances ILLUSTRATION Gunn

JAKARTA - The Donald Trump administration is considering issuing comprehensive travel restrictions for citizens from dozens of countries as part of a new ban.

The memo seen by Reuters lists a total of 41 countries divided into three separate groups.

The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea, will be set for a suspension or full visa revocation.

In the second group, five countries -- Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan -- will face partial suspensions that will impact tourist and student visas as well as other immigrant visas, with some exceptions.

In the third group, a total of 26 countries covering Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan will, among other things, be considered for suspension of some US visa issuance if their government "does not try to overcome the shortage within 60 days", the memo said.

A US official who spoke on condition of anonymity warned there might have been changes to the list. According to him the list has not been approved by the government, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The New York Times first reported on the country's list.

The move is reminiscent of the ban on President Donald Trump's first term on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, a policy that underwent some changes before it was enforced by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensive security checks on any foreigners wishing to enter the US to detect national security threats.

The order directs several cabinet members to submit lists of countries whose trips had to be partially suspended or completely before March 21st because "the information on their inspections and screenings was lacking."

Trump's directives are part of the crackdown on immigration he launched at the beginning of his second term.

He outlined his plans in his speech in October 2023, pledging to restrict people from the Gaza Strip, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and "anywhere that threatens our security."

The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.