Islamabad (Web Desk) The United States has begun preparations to expand its list of countries facing travel restrictions from the current 19 to more than 30. According to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, President Donald Trump is reviewing which additional countries may face new travel bans.
Earlier this month, reports emerged that the Trump administration had halted all immigration applications from 19 non-European countries based on concerns related to national security and public safety. The suspension included the processing of green cards and applications for U.S. citizenship.
According to Reuters, the 19 countries already under partial travel restrictions as of June were subjected to stricter measures under the new directives. These restrictions aimed to further tighten entry protocols for nationals of those countries.
The list of countries facing full entry bans includes Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Citizens of these countries have been barred from entering the United States altogether.
Other nations that were under partial restrictions in June include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. U.S. officials stated that the situation remains under review and more countries may be added to the travel ban list in the coming weeks.
