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The administration under Donald Trump has compiled a “red” list featuring 11 nations whose inhabitants will be restricted from entering the United States. This initiative is part of an extensive travel ban strategy affecting potentially up to 43 nations. Officials from the US have indicated that this list was formulated by the State Department a few weeks prior, and changes are expected before it reaches the White House, as reported by the New York Times. When assuming office on January 20, Trump signed an executive order mandating the State Department to pinpoint countries “where vetting and screening information is so lacking that it justifies a partial or total suspension on receiving nationals from those nations.” He allotted 60 days for the department to complete this report for the White House, which is anticipated to be finalized next week.
The proposed lists created by diplomatic and security officials are categorized into three colors: Red, Orange, and Yellow.
Red: This category includes citizens from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen, all of whom would be prohibited from entering the United States. The Times reported earlier this month that Afghanistan, which was absent from Trump’s initial travel ban but fell to the Taliban after US troops departed from Kabul, is expected to face entry restrictions.
Orange: This section contains 10 nations where travel may be restricted, though a complete ban is not enforced. In these cases, wealthy individuals could still gain entry, while those with immigrant visas would not. Individuals listed here must undergo mandatory in-person interviews to obtain a visa. This category includes Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.
Yellow: Comprising 22 countries, this group includes Angola, Liberia, the Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Vanuatu. These nations will be granted 60 days to address perceived deficiencies, with the potential risk of being reassigned to other categories if they fail to do so. Issues include the inadequacy of sharing information about incoming travelers, questionable security measures related to passport issuance, or the practice of selling citizenship to individuals banned from their countries, according to a report by the New York Times.
Why Bhutan Has Been Banned?
Bhutan is recognized as one of the happiest nations globally, yet, due to concerns regarding "national security" and "irregular migration patterns," the United States government has implemented a ban on the country. Official reports indicate a surprising rise in Bhutanese individuals overstaying their visas or attempting unauthorized entry into the US, as highlighted by The Feed.
In the past year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) noted a significant 37% increase in visa violations among Bhutanese nationals, leading to tougher enforcement measures. As a result of the travel restrictions, Bhutanese travelers intending to go to the US will encounter heightened scrutiny, longer visa processing durations, and potential outright denials in certain situations. Obtaining student and work visas will likely become more challenging. Furthermore, Bhutanese citizens in the US on temporary visas could face additional oversight, complicating the renewal process. This decision is expected to affect the generally stable relationship between the US and Bhutan. The Bhutanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formally requested a review of this ruling, asserting that its citizens do not constitute a substantial security risk to the United States.
Reports from US media imply uncertainty regarding whether individuals with current visas will be exempt from the ban or if their visas might be revoked. There is also ambiguity surrounding the status of existing green card holders, who have already been granted lawful permanent residency. The proposal regarding restrictions on, rather than an outright ban of, visitors from Russia raises further concerns. Despite the Russian government's notoriety for corruption, Trump has been actively seeking to shift US foreign policy towards a friendlier stance toward Russia.
Recently, the administration announced the revocation of the green card belonging to Mahmoud Khalil, a Syrian-born former Columbia University student of Palestinian heritage, who had organized notable protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza, which the government classified as anti-Semitic.
It is important to point out that several countries currently on the travel ban list were subjects of sanctions imposed by Trump during his first term. However, this time around, additional nations have been included. The prior lists predominantly featured Muslim-majority countries or nations perceived as poor, corrupt, and non-white. Trump enacted an executive order known as "Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States" shortly after taking office during his first term. This order was commonly referred to as the "Muslim Travel Ban," mainly targeting countries with significant Muslim populations.
The ban effectively halted the entry of Syrian refugees and temporarily banned individuals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. This action resulted in turmoil at airports and widespread protests. Judges in various states quickly intervened to block the initial ban after its implementation in 2017, asserting that it unfairly targeted Muslim countries and discriminated against individuals based on their nationality without sufficient justification, thereby violating US immigration laws.
The Supreme Court altered the interpretation that permitted the restriction of individuals from Libya, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. This prohibition was upheld in 2018. Upon taking office in 2021, Joe Biden eliminated the ban, describing it as “a stain on our national conscience” and “inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.”
During his election campaign, Trump promised to reinstate the travel ban should he regain power. In July, at a campaign event held in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Trump informed the audience that he would “restore the travel ban, suspend refugee admissions, halt resettlement, and keep the terrorists the hell out of our country,” asserting that he would accomplish this on “day one” of his presidency.
