Immigration policy tightened as Trump administration shuts US doors to more countries

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The Trump administration has further tightened the United States’ immigration and travel policy by expanding its list of restricted countries. With the latest order issued by President Donald Trump, travel restrictions now apply to more than 30 countries. Around 20 additional nations, along with the Palestinian Authority, have been added to the restriction list, significantly limiting entry into the US for travelers and immigrants.

The decision follows the arrest of an Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard personnel during the Thanksgiving weekend. The White House said the move is aimed at strengthening entry regulations and addressing national security concerns. Officials cited the recent incident near the White House as one of the factors behind the stricter measures.

However, the restrictions include certain exemptions. Individuals holding valid US visas will not be affected by the new rules. Permanent residents, diplomats, athletes, and some other visa categories are also excluded. In cases where entry is deemed to be in the national interest of the United States, permission may still be granted. The government has not clarified when the new restrictions will formally take effect.

Trump first introduced similar travel restrictions in June, when citizens of 12 countries were completely barred from entering the US and seven others faced partial restrictions. That policy echoed the controversial travel bans imposed during Trump’s first term. The June list of fully restricted countries included Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Partial restrictions were imposed on Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.

On Tuesday, the administration added Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria to the full-ban list. Documents issued by the Palestinian Authority have also been completely restricted. South Sudan was already under strict limitations earlier. Meanwhile, 15 new countries have been placed under partial restrictions, including Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Ivory Coast, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These measures apply to both visitors and those seeking permanent residency.

In his order, Trump stated that corruption is widespread in many of these countries, official documents are unreliable, and criminal records are often incomplete, making proper screening difficult. The administration also noted that citizens from several countries overstay their visas, while some governments refuse to accept deported nationals.

The US government further cited political instability and weak governance in certain countries as factors increasing security, foreign policy, and immigration risks. Laos and Sierra Leone have now been moved from partial to full restrictions, while some easing has been granted to Turkmenistan due to reported improvements. All other provisions announced in June remain in effect.

Travel bans were a major issue during Trump’s first term, triggering widespread protests and legal challenges. Courts later upheld revised versions of the policy. Supporters argue the measures strengthen national security, while critics say they unfairly target people based on their country of origin.