On the 16th, US President Trump signed a proclamation, expanding the number of countries subject to comprehensive and partial US entry restrictions from 19 to 40.
In June this year, citing “national security” and other reasons, the United States announced comprehensive entry restrictions for citizens of 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Chad, as well as partial entry restrictions for citizens of 7 countries, including Burundi, Cuba, and Laos.
According to the latest signed proclamation, due to “serious deficiencies” in screening, vetting, and information sharing in some countries, the US has updated its list of countries subject to entry restrictions in order to protect “national security and public safety.”
The proclamation shows that Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously subject to partial entry restrictions, will now face comprehensive entry restrictions. Additionally, comprehensive entry restrictions will newly apply to citizens of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria, as well as to individuals holding travel documents issued by the Palestinian National Authority.
Under the latest policy, the number of countries subject to comprehensive US entry restrictions has increased from 12 to 20.
The proclamation also announced the addition of 15 countries under partial entry restrictions, including Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Tanzania, and Dominica, bringing the number of countries under partial entry restrictions to 20.
On November 26, two members of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. were shot; the gunman was an Afghan citizen. Subsequently, the US government has tightened immigration control. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a review of green card holders from 19 “countries of concern” previously listed under entry restrictions; Trump posted on social media that he would permanently suspend immigration from “third world countries”; and the State Department announced it would suspend issuing visas to Afghan passport holders.