The government of the US president, Donald Trumphe is considering significantly expanding his travel restrictions by potentially prohibiting the entry to United States to citizens from 36 additional countries, according to an internal cable of the State Department seen by Reuters.
Earlier this month, the Republican President signed a proclamation that prohibited the entry of citizens from 12 countries, saying that the measure was necessary to protect the United States against “foreign terrorists” and other threats to national security.
The directive was part of a migratory offensive that Trump launched this year at the beginning of his second termwhich included deportation to El Salvador of hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of being gang members, as well as efforts to deny the registration of some foreign students in American universities and deport others.
In an internal diplomatic cable signed by the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the State Department described a dozen concerns about the countries in question and sought corrective measures.
“The department has identified 36 worrying countries that could be recommended a total or partial suspension of their entry if they do not meet the reference points and requirements established within 60 days,” says the cable sent over the weekend.
Among the concerns raised by the State Department was the lack of a competent or cooperative government in some of the countries mentioned to issue reliable identity documents, according to the cable. Another concern was the “questionable security” of the passport of that country.
Some countries, according to the cable, did not cooperate to facilitate the expulsion of their citizens from the United States, whose expulsion had been ordered. Some countries remained in the country longer than allowed by the US visas granted to them.
Other reasons for concern were that the country’s nationals were involved in acts of terrorism in the United States or in anti -American and anti -American activities.
The cable pointed out that not all these concerns referred to all the countries listed.
“We are constantly revaluing policies to guarantee the safety of Americans and that foreigners comply with our laws,” said a senior state department official, refusing to comment on specific internal deliberations and communications.
“The State Department is committed to protecting our nation and its citizens maintaining the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process,” said the official.
The countries that could face a total or partial prohibition if they do not address these concerns in the next 60 days are: Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Bután, Burkina Faso, Cape Very, Cambodia, Cameroon, Costa de Costa Prince, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
This would represent a significant extension of the prohibition that entered into force earlier this month. The affected countries were Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The entry of people from seven other countries has also been partially restricted: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
During his first term, Trump announced a prohibition at the entrance of travelers from seven Muslim majority nations, a policy that went through several iterations before being confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2018.
