WEBDESK: Donald Trump’s administration in Washington is considering issuing travel bans for residents of several countries, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters. Pakistan has been placed in a group that would be considered for a partial suspension of visa issuance if their governments “do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days”
The memo lists a total of 41 countries, divided into three separate groups for travel bans. The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension.
In the second group, five countries, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar and South Sudan would face partial suspensions that would impact student and tourist visas as well as immigrant visas.
In the third group, the remaining 26 countries that include Belarus, Pakistan and Turkmenistan would be set for a partial suspension for US visas if “their governments do not make efforts to address deficiencies within 60 days.”
The New York Times first reported on the list of countries.
The move references back to Donald Trump’s first term travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations, a policy that went through several changes before being upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.
Trump issued an executive order on January 20 requiring intensified security vetting of any foreigners seeking admission to the U.S. to detect national security threats.
That order directed several cabinet members to submit by March 21 a list of countries from which travel should be partly or fully suspended because their “vetting and screening information is so deficient”.
Read more: Trump leaves recession possibility open as economists warn of economic uncertainty
