Based on leaked internal U.S. State Department memos, the Trump administration is about to start expanding travel restrictions even further. They’re already considering expanding the list to include an additional 36 countries. This possible relocation marked an effort to deal with a myriad of national security issues associated with nationals from these countries.
The countries currently being targeted for full or partial bans are Angola, Bhutan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, and others. The list includes Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Tanzania, and Ghana among other countries. The State Department has pointed out many issues with these countries. They are particularly concerned with the degree to which these countries assist U.S. immigration enforcement and their connections to terrorism.
The administration’s rationale for expanding the travel ban includes reports of non-cooperation in facilitating the deportation of nationals ordered to leave the United States. Some citizens from these countries have perpetrated acts of terrorism against us. Antisemitic and anti-American are intolerable sentiments to be expressing, and one doesn’t have to look far to see how this harms American interests.
Unfortunately, the last four years have seen an aggressive campaign by the Trump administration to make it harder to immigrate. During his first term, it was the declaration of a ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, which the Supreme Court upheld in 2018. While this directive was part of an effort to reinforce harsh and punitive immigration enforcement, it is nonetheless insightful for understanding enforcement priorities. This involved the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of gang affiliations and technical attempts to limit foreign student enrollments in U.S. universities.
If enacted, these new travel restrictions would mark the State Department’s third attempt to impose blanket travel restrictions on the people of targeted countries. Like other leaders, they pursued a complete national security agenda. These are all complaints based on nationals overstaying their visas and a failure to cooperate in responding to immigration enforcement requests.
“We are constantly reevaluating policies to ensure the safety of Americans and that foreign nationals follow our laws,” – a senior State Department official
Moreover, the administration has already imposed partial restrictions on nationals from seven other countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. We know that these officials are committed to addressing our country’s most pressing national security threats. The recent proposal to broaden travel restrictions illustrates this persistent campaign.
“The Department of State is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” – a senior State Department official