In a recent move, officials in Washington have set a crucial deadline for 36 countries, primarily located in Africa, urging them to enhance their procedures for vetting travelers. They must meet this deadline by Wednesday to avoid a potential travel ban on their citizens entering the United States.
A directive from the State Department has been communicated over the weekend to embassies and consulates in those countries, instructing them to assess and report back on their willingness to improve traveler documentation processes. The countries are also expected to take measures regarding their nationals currently living illegally in the United States.
This directive suggests a 60-day window for these nations to address U.S. concerns or face the possibility of being subject to the existing travel ban, which already includes 12 nations. Out of the new countries highlighted in this initiative, 25 are located in Africa.
The Trump administration’s latest strategies aim to curb visa overstays while connecting entry permissions to perceived national security risks. President Trump has argued that several countries have inadequate screening processes or historically refused to repatriate their citizens. Some nations have criticized these travel restrictions, promising reciprocal measures, while resettlement organizations argue that such actions foster division.
Though State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has refrained from discussing the cable’s specifics, she confirmed the goal is to encourage these countries to upgrade their vetting methods. This entails accepting deported nationals and ensuring that their citizens do not pose a threat to U.S. safety.
“We’re assessing whether these countries can establish a system we can trust, requiring them to make updates or changes if necessary,” Bruce remarked.
However, it’s still undetermined whether countries showing a commitment to improvement but falling short of the expectations within 60 days will have the ban imposed.
The list includes nations traditionally allied with the U.S., such as Egypt and Djibouti, both active in military cooperation with the United States, as well as nations like Liberia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Notably, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which were previously exempt from the travel ban, are now included.
South Sudan already faces distinct travel restrictions from the State Department, which has led to the revocation of most visas for their citizens in the U.S.
Recently, President Trump expanded the travel ban to encompass 12 countries while enforcing restrictions on seven others. Existing visas remain valid, but the issuance of new ones to the affected countries’ citizens is restricted.
The current ban impacts Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additional visa constraints affect citizens from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
The newly targeted countries include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.