New Delhi: Former US President Donald Trump is set to propose a fresh travel ban that would bar the entry of people from Afghanistan and Pakistan, as per a report by Reuters. The move comes as per security risk evaluations performed by US government agencies, according to the report.
According to reports, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the most likely countries to join this ban, but other countries might also do so. However, no official announcement has been made yet. This follows Trump’s policy in his first term of banning travel in many Muslim-dominated nations.
This proposed ban would have a major effect on thousands of Afghan nationals who were cleared to enter the U.S. through the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and refugee resettlement programs. These people, many of whom served the U.S. government and military during the war in Afghanistan, now are under grave threat from the Taliban.
Reports indicate that U.S. national security agencies also proposed adding Pakistan to the list. No official announcement by the U.S. State Department, Department of Justice, or Department of Homeland Security has been made, though.
A source pointed out that Afghan refugees and SIV holders are already subjected to rigorous security screening, prompting concerns that they would be exempt from such a travel ban. Despite this, indications suggest they won’t receive an exemption.
Trump has been ramping up immigration policies before a possible second term. In a 2023 speech, he announced his plan to impose restrictions on those coming from Gaza, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and other high-risk countries.
In January, Trump suspended refugee arrivals and financing for travel, leaving some 200,000 Afghans in limbo, of whom more than 20,000 remained stranded in Pakistan.
Sean VanDiver, the leader of the #AfghanEvac group, has called on legitimate visa holders to come to the U.S. as soon as possible. He cautioned, “While no formal announcement has been made, government sources indicate that the new travel ban might go into effect as early as next week.”
We don’t know when, how, or which nations this policy will target. The reaction of international pressure and human rights groups may also impact the ultimate decision by the U.S. administration.
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