Trump expands U.S. travel restrictions on multiple countries

President Donald Trump plans to broaden travel bans for over a dozen countries, including Iran, Venezuela, and Afghanistan. This new directive is expected to be announced as soon as Friday. The U.S. government argues these nations do not have sufficient vetting processes for travelers. The new travel ban will be wider than the one introduced in 2017, which mainly targeted Muslim-majority countries. The updated list categorizes countries into three groups: a "Red List" for total entry bans, an "Orange List" for visa restrictions, and a "Yellow List" for nations under review. Countries on the Red List include Afghanistan, Iran, and Sudan, while Russia and Belarus appear on the Orange List. Trump has emphasized a stricter immigration policy for national security reasons. He has tasked several officials to put the ban into action, stating that many of these countries fail to share important intelligence about travelers. As expected, this travel ban is likely to face strong opposition from human rights and immigration advocacy groups. Critics argue that targeted nations may struggle to comply with new U.S. requirements due to political instability. Legal experts also predict lawsuits challenging the ban, particularly concerning individuals who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration.