The administration of President Donald Trump is considering a fresh travel ban that could impact travellers from 22 African nations along with 21 others.
Nigeria is not part of the affected countries.
This new ban is expected to impose stricter measures than the travel restrictions implemented during Trump’s first term.
According to The New York Times, US diplomatic and security officials have drafted a list of 43 countries that may face restrictions. Some of these nations were already subject to travel bans in Trump’s previous term. The draft outlines three categories: a “red” list with 11 nations, an “orange” list with 10, and a “yellow” list with 22.
People from red-listed countries would be completely barred from entering the US.
Those on the orange list would face significant entry restrictions. Wealthy business travellers might still qualify, but individuals applying for immigrant or tourist visas would be turned away.
Nations in the yellow category would have a 60-day period to address concerns before a decision is finalised.
Out of the 43 nations listed, 22 are from Africa.
The red list includes Libya, Somalia, and Sudan from Africa. The remaining red-listed nations are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The orange list also features three African countries—Eritrea, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan. Other nations in this category include Belarus, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
A majority of the yellow-listed nations are African, with 16 countries: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Zimbabwe. The remaining six are Antigua and Barbuda, Cambodia, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Vanuatu.
The New York Times, citing an unnamed official, reported that the list is still a draft and could be modified before final approval.
Previous Travel Ban
During Trump’s first term, several nations now appearing on the red and orange lists were already subjected to entry restrictions.
The newly included countries share common characteristics with those previously banned, many are Muslim-majority or developing nations with predominantly non-white populations.
Nigeria was not part of Trump’s original travel ban, which affected seven Muslim-majority nations: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
Over time, adjustments were made to the ban, but Nigeria remained unaffected until 2020, when the Trump administration expanded the restrictions to include Nigeria and five other nations.
This expansion specifically impacted immigrant visas, preventing Nigerian applicants from obtaining permanent residency in the US.
In 2021, the ban was lifted under President Joe Biden’s administration.
