By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing new, stringent regulations for entry into the United States, potentially imposing travel restrictions on citizens from 43 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. According to a report by The New York Times, this list includes three different categories, marked by red, gold, and yellow lists.
Red List: Complete Ban on Entry for Citizens of These Countries
The red list includes 11 countries whose citizens will face a total ban on entry into the U.S. These countries include Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Venezuela, Cuba, and Bhutan. Some of these countries, like Afghanistan, came under Taliban control after the withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021, complicating their security situation further.
Gold List: Specific Visa Restrictions for Citizens of These Countries
The gold list includes 10 countries whose citizens will face partial entry restrictions to the U.S. These include Russia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Eritrea, Haiti, Laos, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Belarus. Citizens of these countries will require interviews for U.S. non-immigrant visas (such as tourist and business visas), and these restrictions will apply to visa applications.
Yellow List: 22 Countries Given 60 Days to Address Security Concerns
The yellow list includes 22 countries that have been given 60 days to resolve security-related issues. These countries include Angola, Gambia, Liberia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Cambodia, Saint Lucia, Chad, Sao Tome and Principe, Malawi, Mali, and others. If these countries fail to address security concerns, they may be moved to the red or gold list.
Pakistan’s Situation
Pakistan is included in the gold list, meaning its citizens will face stringent visa restrictions for travel to the U.S. This will impact Pakistan’s business, educational, and tourism ties with the U.S. Pakistani citizens will be required to attend interviews for U.S. visas, and their visas may also be canceled. The decision has sparked various reactions in Pakistan, with some viewing it as another example of U.S. foreign policy potentially influencing Pakistan’s internal affairs.
Trump’s Return and New Travel Restrictions
After being re-elected as president on January 20, 2025, Trump has prepared a policy through an executive order to tighten security checks for entry into the U.S. This policy aims to identify potential security threats posed by foreign nationals entering the U.S. and to counter terrorism and other risks from these countries. Although Trump had temporarily imposed a ban on seven Muslim-majority countries during his first term, which faced intense legal challenges, President Joe Biden later reversed this ban.
Analysis of the Situation
If these restrictions are implemented, citizens from these 43 countries will face stringent security procedures for entering the U.S. These measures will affect global relations and the freedom of travel, especially for citizens of countries that already face difficulties obtaining U.S. visas.
Conclusion
This action by the Trump administration is expected to bring about further changes in U.S. foreign policy, potentially restricting travel for citizens of 43 countries, including Pakistan. The consequences of this decision will have a significant impact on international relations and travel ties in the future.
