US Considering New Entry Restrictions for Citizens of 43 Countries, Including Russia and Belarus – Media

The New York Times reported this, citing sources familiar with the situation, Ukrinform reports.

The draft recommendations, prepared by the State Department and security officials, include a “red list” of 11 countries whose citizens would be strictly prohibited from entering the United States. The list includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen, officials said.

NYT sources clarified that the list was compiled by the US State Department several weeks ago, and it will likely be amended by the time it reaches the White House.

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The second, “orange” list includes 10 countries to which travel will be severely restricted, although not completely banned. In these cases, entry may be granted to wealthy business travelers, but not to those traveling on immigrant or tourist visas. Citizens of countries on this list must also undergo mandatory in-person interviews to obtain a visa. The list includes Russia, Belarus, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Turkmenistan.

In addition, the proposal includes a “yellow” list of 22 countries that would be given 60 days to address identified deficiencies, with the threat of being moved to one of the other lists if they fail to comply.

Such violations could include failure to provide the United States with information on incoming travelers, allegedly lax security measures in issuing passports, or the sale of citizenship to individuals from prohibited countries, which could serve as a “loophole” to circumvent restrictions.

The list includes Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.

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According to the NYT, it is not yet clear whether these restrictions will apply to existing visa and green card holders, or whether they are planned to be lifted.

As reported by Ukrinform, in February, US Immigration and Customs Service officers deported about 11 thousand migrants, while during the same period of the previous year, 12 thousand “peles” were expelled.