Trump threatens travel ban on 36 countries if they fail to…; key US partners on list, check names here

Earlier this month, the Donald Trump administration imposed a complete travel ban on 12 countries, and partial ban on seven others.

Trump travel ban: The Donald Trump administration has threatened to impose a travel ban on as many as 36 countries, issuing a 60-day deadline that asks these nations to take immediate measures to improve their document checking process and address the matter of their citizens who are living illegally in the US.

Trump threatens travel ban on 36 countries

According to a confidential diplomatic cable sent by the US State Department, the 36 countries, 25 of which are African states, have been asked to submit an action plan by June 18 (Wednesday), and then act on the submitted plan within a 2-month period, else their citizens will be barred from entering the United States.

The countries, many of whom are traditional US partners such as Nigeria, Liberia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Ghana and Egypt, have been asked to to take concrete steps to address US concerns within 60 days, or risk a full or partial travel ban on their citizens by August. In its confidential cable, the State Department has instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to talk to the governments of these countries to find out how seriously they are willing to work on addressing US concerns, reports said.

US wants stricter visa norms in other nations, says State dept

Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson declined to provide details about the confidential cable, but confirmed reports that the US wants other countries to strengthen their passport screening processes, cooperate in deportation of their illegal citizens, and ensure that their citizens who migrate to the US do not pose a threat to American national security.

“We are giving a fixed period during which these countries will have to prove to us that their process can be trusted, or they will have to make changes,” she said. However, its unclear whether countries who commit to making the said changes, but are unable to meet the set standards, will be banned after the 60-day deadline.

Bruce said the Trump administration seeks cooperation from countries that are unable to provide reliable passports and identity documents for their citizens or whose citizens violate US visa rules. She also pointed out that some countries are uncooperative in taking back their citizens who are being deported from the US.

Don’t want ‘dangerous people’ in US: Trump

We do not want dangerous people from those countries coming into our country. The Biden Administration allowed some dangerous people to enter the United States, and we are taking them out one by one,” said US President Donald Trump.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed a complete travel ban on 12 countries, and partial ban on seven others.

While citizens from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, are barred entry into the US, a partial ban has been imposed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

African countries condemn Trump travel ban

Notably, Trump’s new list of 36 countries includes as many as 25 nations, many of whom have called the new policy “discriminatory and unequal”, and also warned to take retaliatory steps in response to the US’ move. Additionally, several refugee resettlement groups within the US have also opposed the proposed ban, terming it divisive and racist in nature.

The countries which are on Trump admin’s list are– Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, 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 and Zimbabwe.