Pakistan Among 41 Countries Facing Possible U.S. Travel Ban Under Trump Administration: Report

Trump’s Immigration Crackdown May Lead to Visa Suspensions for Several Nations

The Donald Trump administration is reportedly considering imposing new travel restrictions on 41 countries, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bhutan, as part of a broader effort to curb illegal immigration. According to a draft document accessed by Reuters, these restrictions could be stricter than those imposed during Trump’s first term, when travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations were banned from entering the U.S.

🔹 Pakistan Faces Possible Partial Visa Suspension

The draft recommendations, prepared by U.S. security officials, categorize Pakistan among 26 nations that could face a partial suspension of U.S. visa issuance. The decision reportedly depends on whether Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government can address security deficiencies within 60 days.

🌍 Other countries in this category include:

• Turkmenistan
• Belarus
• Bhutan
• Vanuatu (which recently gained attention after fugitive ex-IPL chairman Lalit Modi claimed its citizenship)

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has dismissed these reports as “speculative”, stating that they have received no official communication from the U.S. regarding a travel ban.

“As of now, this is all speculative and hence does not warrant a response,” said Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.

🔹 U.S. Deports Pakistani Ambassador Over Visa Issues

Adding to the tensions, Pakistani ambassador to Turkmenistan, KK Ahsan Wagan, was denied entry into the U.S. and deported from Los Angeles earlier this week.

🚫 Possible reason: Reports suggest that the U.S. immigration system flagged his visa references as “controversial.” However, no official statement has been issued by Washington.

🔹 10 Countries on Trump’s “Red List” for Full Visa Suspension

According to the draft proposal, 10 countries have been placed on a “red list”, meaning their citizens could face a complete suspension of U.S. visas.

🔴 Countries facing full visa suspension:

• Afghanistan
• Cuba
• Iran
• Libya
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Venezuela
• Yemen

🔹 5 More Countries to Face Limited Visa Restrictions

A second group of five countries may see restrictions on tourist, student, and immigrant visas with certain exceptions.

⚠️ Countries affected by limited restrictions:

• Eritrea
• Haiti
• Laos
• Myanmar
• South Sudan

🔹 Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration

Since returning to office, Trump has prioritized strict immigration policies, signing an executive order on January 20, requiring extensive vetting of foreign visitors for potential security threats.

🛑 What this means:

• Stricter visa approval processes
• Increased background checks
• Potential visa denials for travelers from flagged countries

While Pakistan has not yet officially received any notification regarding the travel ban, the situation remains tense, with analysts predicting increased U.S. pressure on nations failing to meet security standards.