The Trump administration appears poised to reintroduce travel restrictions on multiple countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, as part of its broader crackdown on illegal immigration.
According to a Reuters report, the proposed ban would prevent individuals from designated countries from entering the United States and could be implemented as early as next week.
However, Pakistani officials have stated that no official communication regarding the policy has been received yet. They intend to await formal notification before issuing a response.
Recalling Past Travel Bans
The move echoes a similar policy from former President Trump’s first term when travel restrictions were imposed on seven Muslim-majority countries. That measure, which faced multiple legal challenges, was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. President Joe Biden later repealed it in 2021, calling it “a stain on our national conscience.”
Sources cited by Reuters indicate that Afghanistan will be included in the new list, while Pakistan is under consideration. The full list of affected countries remains undisclosed.
President Trump’s executive order, issued on January 20, mandated stricter security vetting for all foreign nationals seeking entry into the US. It also instructed various government agencies to compile, by March 12, a list of countries with “insufficient” vetting and screening measures, recommending travel suspensions.
Awaiting Official Word
During a Foreign Office briefing in Islamabad, spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan declined to comment, stating he had not reviewed the report.
Diplomatic sources in Washington confirmed that the Trump administration is currently briefing Congress on the policy, with an official announcement expected next week. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US, Rizwan Saeed Shaikh, acknowledged the news reports but emphasized that no formal communication had been received.
Meanwhile, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent civil rights organization, has advised lawful permanent residents, students, workers, and other immigrants in the US to avoid traveling abroad over the next 30 days due to potential restrictions.
CAIR’s advisory warns that the list of targeted countries may include Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Palestine/Gaza, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, or other nations.
The Trump administration has set March 21, 2025, as the deadline for federal agencies to submit a report identifying countries with inadequate visa screening processes, recommending a travel ban for their citizens.
Impact on Afghan Refugees
The proposed restrictions could significantly impact thousands of Afghans who have been cleared for resettlement in the US under refugee programs or Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). These individuals, many of whom worked with the US military during its 20-year presence in Afghanistan, now face heightened uncertainty.
A source noted that Afghans entering the US under these programs undergo one of the world’s most rigorous screening processes. The US State Department is reportedly seeking an exemption for SIV holders, though approval remains uncertain.
Additionally, the office overseeing Afghan relocation efforts has been directed to submit a closure plan by April, as reported by Reuters last month.
Visa Restrictions on Illegal Immigration Facilitators
Separately, the US State Department recently introduced a new visa restriction policy targeting foreign officials and individuals involved in facilitating illegal migration to the US.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that countries along migration routes must take responsibility for preventing unauthorized entry into the US.
The new policy applies to foreign government officials, including those in immigration, customs, airport, and port authorities, who knowingly enable illegal migration. It also extends to certain family members of individuals subjected to travel bans.
Rubio added that the measure complements an expanded policy from 2024, which targeted private sector entities offering transportation and travel services specifically for undocumented migrants.
