The United States had already expanded its travel restrictions to include an additional twelve countries, which included Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and Yemen.
US President Donald Trump has enacted a proclamation widening America’s travel ban and entry limitations, pointing to issues related to national security, public safety, insufficient vetting processes, and elevated visa overstay levels. The order includes an additional 20 countries and Palestinians to the current list, raising the total number of impacted nations to 39.
Recently, the White House announced that individuals from five countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria) and individuals traveling on behalf of Palestinians with documents from The Palestinian Authority would be prohibited from traveling to the United States.
The travel bans are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2021 and follow a statement made by Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, two weeks prior when she indicated there would be additional countries added to the previously existing travel bans imposed by the United States.
The United States had already expanded its travel restrictions to include an additional twelve countries, which included Afghanistan, Iran, Libya and Yemen.
The recent decision indicates a stricter approach to immigration following the November 26 deaths of two National Guard members in Washington, DC. The assailant, an Afghan citizen who had formerly been affiliated with a CIA-connected group, arrived in the US post the 2021 troop exit from Afghanistan and received asylum earlier this year after undergoing screening. The administration has referenced this case as a reason for tighter immigration regulations.
As a result of the attack by the Islamic State that occurred in Syria on December 13th, where two American soldiers and one civilian interpreter died, this decision was made.
The new policy also imposes partial travel bans on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among other places.
Partial limitations will continue for citizens of Burundi, Cuba, Togo, and Venezuela.
Turkmenistan is the sole nation to gain some relief, as the order removes limitations on non-immigrant visas for its citizens.
