Once again, the Trump Administration is at the forefront of hardline action in the immigration debate as reports show that the Trump administration is looking at adding 36 countries to travel ban restrictions in place.
The proposed expansion, explained in a classified State Department cable and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, would more than triple the countries banned and would significantly change the scope of international travel for entry to the United States.
Background and Reasoning
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation barring entry for citizens from 12 countries under the need of safeguarding national security to greater “foreign terrorists” and other threats.
This is a part of a larger immigration enforcement strategy that has included deportation of Venezuelans suspected of gang ties directly to El Salvador and limitations on certain international students attending United States colleges.
The most recent memo approved by the State Department identified twelve concerns with each of the 36 countries that are going to be considered. These could include concerns with countries’ identity verification requirements, passport security features, and their cooperation to assist deportations of their nationals departing the U.S. Also outlined were concerns regarding citizens of these countries overstaying their U.S. visa or even being engaged in antisemitic or anti-American activities.
Deadlines and Requirements
Affected countries will have 60 days to comply with the State Department requirements or face full or partial bans of its nationals into the U.S. Initial action plans were due by the affected governments by 8:00 am on Wednesday, outlining how the country will plan to achieve the new benchmarks set by the State Department.
The memorandum did mention that not every country has all of the concerns listed above but that each country must show meaningful effort toward each concern to avoid any sanctions.
The list of concerning countries
The 36 countries that are being considered for inclusion in the extended travel ban are located in Africa, the Caribbean, Central Asia, and the Pacific. The list includes some valuable U.S. partners and allies.
The full list, first reported by several sources, is:
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- The Gambia
- Ghana
- Kyrgyzstan
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- South Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Vanuatu
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
This list is impressive in its expanse, with 25 African countries and various other countries as well.
International Response and Criticism
The potential expansion has led to strong criticism from human rights groups, foreign governments, and political opponents, who argue that it is discriminatory and will harm international relationships, especially with valued partners in Africa and the Caribbean.
Critics also compared it to the 2017 “muslim ban”, which drew condemnation for being both xenophobic and ineffective.
Human Impacts and Next Steps
For thousands of students, business travelers, tourists, and families, the proposed expansion creates uncertainty and fear. The affected people are left wondering whether their travel plans will be brought to a halt or whether they may be separated from their loved ones in the United States.
The next 60 days will be very important for the affected countries as they seek to satisfy U.S. demands and avoid sanctions.
The Trump administration’s current deliberation to add up to 36 countries to travel ban constraints has the world watching closely.
The result of whether the shifting policy will mean anything to the practices of international relations, U.S. diplomacy, and people’s lives, among many other implications, is big.
It is unclear whether these nations can fulfill these new stringent restrictions, regardless the conditions of magazine or global mobility and trust has not been higher.
