US Considers Sweeping Travel Restrictions, Pakistan Among Countries at Risk
Key Developments:
- Proposed Travel Ban: The Trump administration is considering imposing broad travel restrictions on citizens of dozens of countries. Pakistan has been placed in a category that could face partial visa suspension if it fails to address specific deficiencies within 60 days.
- Three-Tiered Classification: A total of 41 countries are listed in an internal memo seen by Reuters:
- Full Visa Suspension (10 countries): Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea, and others.
- Partial Suspension (5 countries): Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, and South Sudan—restrictions would affect tourist, student, and some immigrant visas.
- Conditional Suspension (26 countries): Includes Pakistan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan, with potential visa restrictions pending compliance within 60 days.
- Official Confirmation Pending: A US official stated that the list could still change and requires approval from the administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- Historical Precedent: The move echoes Trump’s 2017 travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
- Executive Order on Immigration: On January 20, Trump signed an order intensifying security vetting for foreign visitors, instructing cabinet members to submit a list of countries by March 21 for potential travel suspensions.
- Immigration Crackdown: The policy aligns with Trump’s second-term immigration agenda. He had previously vowed to restrict travel from regions deemed security risks, including Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen.
The proposed restrictions reflect a renewed focus on national security and immigration enforcement. With the final decision pending, affected nations, including Pakistan, may seek diplomatic engagement to avoid visa suspensions. The State Department has yet to comment on the matter.
