US President Donald Trump is set to implement a new travel ban that could bar individuals from Pakistan and Afghanistan from entering the United States as early as next week.
The sources indicated that additional countries might also be included, though they did not specify which ones. The proposed ban echoes Trump’s first-term policy that restricted travel from seven majority-Muslim nations — a measure upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018 after several revisions.
Former President Joe Biden repealed that ban in 2021, denouncing it as “a stain on our national conscience.”
The latest restrictions could impact tens of thousands of Afghans cleared for resettlement in the US as refugees or Special Immigrant Visa holders. These individuals face threats from the Taliban due to their collaboration with US forces during the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
Trump signed an executive order on January 20 mandating heightened security vetting for all foreign nationals seeking entry into the US to identify potential national security risks. The order directed several cabinet members to submit a list of countries by March 12 where travel should be fully or partially suspended due to inadequate security and vetting protocols.
Afghanistan is expected to be on the list for a complete travel ban. Pakistan is also likely to be recommended for inclusion.
Despite the extensive screening process for Afghan refugees and special visa holders, the State Department’s request for an exemption for these individuals is unlikely to be granted.
