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It seems like the news changes daily. President Trump’s original January 20 executive order asked the State Department to identify countries where passengers to the U.S. may not be stringently examined and checked—to the degree that the U.S. would not admit them. Since then, there has been “credible reporting,” according to the Guardian, citing two Yale law professors’ emails, that nationals from targeted countries may be banned from entering the U.S. The professors Muneer Ahmad and Michael Wishnie urged students studying in those countries to consider returning to the U.S. right away or staying in the U.S. if they are already here. Here's what we know so far:
What are President Trump’s new travel bans?
These possible travel bans affect people from other countries trying to visit the United States. The Trump administration has initially suggested a sweeping ban against entry for residents of as many as 43 countries, with 11 nations specifically targeted for a complete travel prohibition, as reported by the Guardian.
Which countries face U.S. travel restrictions?
The 11 "red tier" countries whose residents might face a total ban against coming to the U.S.:
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- Cuba
- Iran
- Libya
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
There is also a second “orange” tier identifying countries with sharp visa restrictions on entering the U.S.:
- Belarus
- Eritrea
- Haiti
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan and
- Turkmenistan
In a third “yellow” tier, 21 countries (most of them in Africa) would be given 60 days to address security concerns:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- Republic of Congo
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Dominica
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gambia
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Kitts and Nevis
- Lucia
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
Why are these travel bans being put in place?
The Trump administration seeks to detect national security threats from people entering the country, citing that other countries’ process of “vetting and screening information is so deficient.”
How to stay updated on U.S. travel restrictions:
A great resource is the Guardian newspaper out of the U.K.; it’s an outside news source that isn’t part of the push and pull in the United States. You can also track the “presidential actions” page of the White House’s official website. On March 21, the state department’s report is due, finalizing recommendations on travel restrictions.