The Trump administration is finalizing a new ban on travel to the US for citizens of certain countries that would be broader than the versions President Trump issued in his first term, according to two officials familiar with the matter, reports The New York Times.
A draft recommendation circulating inside the executive branch proposes a “red” list of countries whose citizens Trump could bar from entering the US, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive internal deliberations.
One of the officials said the proposed red list currently consists mainly of countries whose nationals were restricted under versions of Trump’s previous travel ban. Last time, those countries included Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The draft tentatively proposes adding Afghanistan to the group whose citizens would be categorically barred from entering the US, according to one of the officials.
Shawn VanDiver, the head of a nonprofit group that helps resettle Afghans who worked with US forces during the war, said he learned from officials that Afghan citizens would be subject to a complete travel ban.
The group put out an emergency statement titled “Afghan Travel Ban coming” that urged Afghans with valid visas who are currently outside the United States to come back immediately.
Later, Reuters also reported that Afghanistan would be recommended for a complete travel ban.

















