Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a new travel ban that could target Muslim-majority nations, including Afghanistan and Pakistan. According to Reuters, Trump’s administration is finalizing a review of security and vetting risks for foreign countries, which is expected to lead to the announcement of a revised travel ban.
The new ban is said to be inspired by concerns over terrorist threats from the Middle East, with Trump previously stating on the campaign trail that he would expand the ban to include individuals from Gaza following the Hamas terror attack on Israel. The original travel ban, implemented in early 2017, targeted seven Muslim-majority countries and was repealed by President Joe Biden in 2021.
The revised ban could impact tens of thousands of Afghans who have been cleared for resettlement in the U.S. as refugees or on Special Immigrant Visas due to risks of Taliban retribution for their work with the U.S. during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Trump is expected to announce several new executive orders as part of his administration’s efforts to address national security concerns. The inclusion of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the proposed ban reflects ongoing efforts to tighten immigration and vetting processes for individuals from regions deemed high-risk.
