Proposed US Travel Ban May Impact Zimbabwe and Other Nations

The United States has proposed a travel ban affecting Zimbabwe and 40 other countries as part of national security measures. Countries are categorized into three tiers—red, orange, and yellow—with varying degrees of restrictions. Zimbabwe has 60 days to address US concerns to avoid further consequences. This proposal follows previous executive orders relating to immigration and security.

A proposed travel ban from the United States threatens to impact Zimbabwe and 40 additional countries as part of efforts to enhance national security and public safety. The draft memo, distributed among aides of former President Donald Trump, categorizes countries into three tiers: red, orange, and yellow.

Countries in the red tier, totaling 11, would face a complete travel ban to the US. This group includes nations such as Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. The orange tier includes countries subjected to visa restrictions for immigrants, tourists, and students, which encompasses Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.

Zimbabwe is classified in the yellow category, which allows it 60 days to address the concerns of the US government to avoid potential restrictions. Other countries on the brink of heightened restrictions or indefinite bans include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Vanuatu, Gambia, the Dominican Republic, among others.

The draft memo, created by the US State Department, still awaits approval and has not elicited public comments from the White House. This initiative is a follow-up to an executive order issued by Trump in January 2021, aimed at safeguarding the US from foreign threats, particularly terrorism and immigration exploitation.

Previously, in January 2017, Trump initiated an executive order entitled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States.” This order banned Syrian refugees and temporarily halted entry for individuals from several listed countries. The US Supreme Court upheld a modified version of this travel ban in 2018, maintaining restrictions against certain nations.

Upon taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden repealed this ban, emphasizing its inconsistency with America’s tradition of welcoming diverse populations.

The proposed travel ban signals significant implications for Zimbabwe and numerous other nations, categorized by the US into varying tiers based on perceived security threats. The draft memo remains pending approval and is rooted in prior executive actions aimed at increasing national security. The situation underscores ongoing debates surrounding immigration policy and national safety in American politics.

Original Source: news.pindula.co.zw