Trump Tightens Grip on US Immigration: Seven More Countries Targeted
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday dramatically widened his travel ban, now affecting nearly 40 countries worldwide, including Syria and Palestinian Authority passport holders. The move comes amid heightened rhetoric against non-white immigrants and efforts to restrict who may enter the United States.
The White House proclamation framed the ban as a measure to protect Americans from potential threats and to prevent foreigners who could “undermine or destabilize its culture, government, institutions or founding principles.”
Who’s Affected
The newly blacklisted countries include:
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Africa: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan
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Asia: Laos
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Palestinian Authority: Passport holders fully restricted
Additionally, partial travel restrictions now apply to citizens from several African and Caribbean nations: Angola, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Benin, Malawi, Mauritania, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, and Tonga in Polynesia.
Athletes for the upcoming World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico may still gain entry, but fans from blacklisted countries face strict limits.
Context: Security vs. Discrimination
Critics warn that the ban disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, using national security as justification for blanket exclusions rather than individual screening.
Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, CEO of Global Refuge, said:
“This administration is punishing entire populations instead of employing evidence-based, individualised security measures.”
Trump’s rhetoric has been increasingly strident. He has described immigrants from some African nations in derogatory terms and has previously labelled Somalis as “garbage,” following alleged fraud cases involving Somali Americans.
Already banned countries include Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Sudan, and Yemen.
Syrian Ban Follows Security Incident
The expansion comes days after an attack in Syria killed two US troops and a civilian. Syrian authorities reported that the perpetrator was a member of their security forces, flagged for “extremist Islamist ideas.” Trump has also pursued a broader push to rehabilitate ties with Syria internationally despite these incidents.
Refugee Restrictions and Racial Bias Concerns
The White House has all but ended refugee admissions, with only white Afrikaners from South Africa reportedly allowed to immigrate under current policy. This follows last month’s Afghan ban affecting interpreters and allies who fought alongside US forces.
Critics argue that the bans are racially and politically motivated, reinforcing Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda.
Global Reaction
International observers and human rights groups have voiced concern over the humanitarian and diplomatic impact, warning that entire populations are being unfairly punished. Countries with strong US partnerships, like Angola, Senegal, and Zambia, now face travel restrictions despite prior commendations for democratic commitments.
The expansion signals that Trump intends to intensify his hardline stance on immigration, making entry to the US increasingly limited for non-Western nations, while allowing entry for certain groups perceived as “favorable” to his administration’s political narrative.
The US now faces a complex web of diplomatic backlash, humanitarian concerns, and domestic political debate as this latest travel ban takes effect. The move underscores the administration’s escalating focus on immigration control as a cornerstone of Trump’s policy agenda, leaving millions of would-be travelers in uncertainty.
Source: Joburg ETC
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