The US State Department’s draft list includes 43 countries facing immigration restrictions under President Trump’s administration, categorized into red, orange, and yellow lists. Bhutan’s unexpected inclusion highlights a unique immigration issue, while countries like Pakistan and Russia fall under stricter visa regulations. Several nations in the Caribbean and Africa also appear on these lists, showcasing the breadth of the proposed restrictions.
A draft list reportedly circulating within the US State Department outlines 43 countries potentially subject to various levels of travel restrictions under President Donald Trump’s administration. This classification includes three color-coded categories, with the red list designating total bans on citizen entry, the orange list imposing strict visa limitations, and the yellow list allowing 60 days for nations to resolve U.S. concerns.
Among the countries unexpectedly included on the red list is Bhutan, a peaceful Buddhist nation. The Bhutanese public expressed shock as the only plausible explanation for this listing is linked to a 2023 immigration scandal involving Nepalese attempting to enter the U.S. under false claims of being Bhutanese refugees.
Other nations on the red list include expected entries such as North Korea, Iran, Yemen, and Libya, with Afghanistan also making its first appearance. Notably, Iraq is omitted from this list, while Cuba and Venezuela are included despite their geographical locations in the Americas.
The orange list features countries like Pakistan and Russia, much to the surprise of the Pakistani community in the U.S. Belarus, a Russian ally, is also included, while Ukraine, despite its president’s unfavorable treatment in Washington, is absent from both the red and orange categories.
Countries from Asia such as Laos and Myanmar have been placed on the orange list, while Turkmenistan represents Central Asia. The yellow list comprises nations that raised eyebrows, including Caribbean states like St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica, which has garnered attention due to an ongoing investigation regarding a missing Indian student in the region.
Additionally, Cambodia, known for its historical Angkor Wat temples, and the island nation of Vanuatu appear on the yellow list. Twelve African nations, including Zimbabwe and Chad, also fall under this category, indicating a wide-ranging impact on global mobility.
The draft list from the US State Department indicates a multi-tiered approach to immigration restrictions under President Trump’s administration. Countries like Bhutan and Afghanistan are surprising new entries to the red list, while others like Pakistan and Russia find themselves restricted in different capacities. The inclusion of various nations across the globe brings to light the complexities and far-reaching implications of current US immigration policies.
Original Source: www.rediff.com
