Washington: The Trump administration has begun deliberations on imposing travel restrictions on citizens from 43 countries, including Pakistan. These countries have been categorized into three lists: Red, Orange, and Yellow.
The Red List is expected to include 11 countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and North Korea. Citizens of these nations may face a complete suspension of visa issuance.
The Orange List, which reportedly includes Pakistan, Russia, and Sudan among 10 countries, would face restrictions on both immigrant and tourist visas. Meanwhile, the Yellow List could include 22 other nations, though the specific restrictions for them remain unclear.
Earlier this month, a report by Reuters suggested that the upcoming U.S. travel ban could soon prevent individuals from Afghanistan and Pakistan from entering the country. Sources familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously, stated that additional countries might also be added to the list, though their identities remain undisclosed.
This move follows Trump’s first-term travel ban, which targeted travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries. That policy was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 before being rescinded in 2021 by former President Joe Biden, who called it "a stain on the national conscience."
If implemented, the new restrictions could significantly impact thousands of Afghan refugees and special immigrant visa (SIV) holders who were cleared to settle in the U.S. Many of them had worked for American forces during the 20-year war in Afghanistan and now face Taliban retaliation.
On January 20, Trump issued an executive order directing a swift security review of all foreign nationals seeking entry into the U.S. The order required multiple federal agencies to submit a list of countries by March 12, identifying those with inadequate security screening and verification measures.
Sources indicated that Afghanistan is likely to be included on the full travel ban list, while Pakistan's inclusion is also being recommended. However, U.S. government agencies, including the Departments of State, Justice, and Homeland Security, as well as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, have not yet commented on the matter.
